Verse 17.8

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 17.8:

आयुः-सत्त्व-बलारोग्य-सुख-प्रीति-विवर्धनाः ।
रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिरा-हृद्या आहाराः सात्त्विक-प्रियाः ॥ ८ ॥

āyuḥ-sattva-balārogya-sukha-prīti-vivardhanāḥ |
rasyāḥ snigdhāḥ sthirā-hṛdyā āhārāḥ sāttvika-priyāḥ || 8 ||

āyuḥ–life span; sattva–enthusiasm; bala–strength; ārogya–good health; sukha–happiness; prīti–satisfaction; vivardhanāḥ–which augment; rasyāḥ–tasty; snigdhāḥ–fattening; sthirāḥ–sustaining; hṛdyāḥ–pleasing to the heart; āhārāḥ–foods; sāttvika-priyāḥ–dear to those situated in goodness.

Foods that augment one’s life span, enthusiasm, strength, health, happiness and satisfaction, and which are juicy, fattening, sustaining and pleasing to the mind, are dear to persons in the mode of goodness.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

In this world, it is a well-known fact that by eating food in the mode of goodness, one’s duration of life increases. The word sattvam means ‘to energize’. Rasyā refers to substances like unrefined sugar, which although tasty (rasyā) are dry. Śrī Bhagavān next mentions foods like milk and cream, which are both tasty (rasyā) and fatty (snigdhā) but not solid (sthirāḥ). He then speaks of foods that are tasty, fatty and solid, such as jackfruit. Although jackfruit fits into the above categories, it is not good for the heart and stomach; therefore, Śrī Bhagavān specifically mentions food that is beneficial for the heart as well as the belly. Cow products like milk and yogurt, as well as grains like wheat and śali (a type of rice), and natural sugar, have four sāttvika qualities. This is why they are appreciated by people in the mode of goodness. This should be understood. Sāttvika people do not like impure food, even if it has the above-mentioned four characteristics. For this reason, the adjective pavitra (pure) is used in this verse. In Gītā 17.10, the adjective amedhya (impure) is used for people who like food in the mode of ignorance.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

In the present verse, Śrī Bhagavān is informing Arjuna that a mode of nature corresponds with the type of foodstuff consumed. A person who desires his own welfare should only accept food in the mode of goodness, as it is not only beneficial for the health but increases the duration of life. Moreover, because it is pure, it is favourable for the execution of religious life. And since it purifies the body and mind, it is auspicious in every respect. Drinking milk has a distinctly different effect on the mind than drinking wine. Bad association, improper knowledge and lack of proper impressions are causing people to abandon the consumption of food in the mode of goodness.