Arjuna said: Those who set aside the scriptural rules but who perform sacrifices with devotion—what is their status, O Krishna? Are they of sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic nature?
The Blessed Lord said: The natural faith of the embodied is threefold—sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic. Hear thou about it.
The devotion of each man is in agreement with his inborn nature. His inclination is the pattern of his being; whatever his faith is, that verily is he.
The sattvic pay homage to the Devas, the rajasic to the Yakshas and the Rakshasas, and the tamasic to the Pretas and the hosts of Bhutas.
Know those men to be of asuric nature who perform terrible austerities not authorized by the scriptures. Hypocrites, egotists—possessed by lust, attachment, and power madness—senselessly they torture the bodily elements and also offend Me, the Indweller.
Know those men to be of asuric nature who perform terrible austerities not authorized by the scriptures. Hypocrites, egotists—possessed by lust, attachment, and power madness—senselessly they torture the bodily elements and also offend Me, the Indweller.
Each of the three classes of men even likes one of the three kinds of food; so also their yajnas, penances, and almsgivings. Hear thou about these distinctions.
Foods that promote longevity, vitality, endurance, health, cheerfulness, and good appetite; and that are savory, mild, substantial, and agreeable to the body, are liked by pure-minded (sattvic) persons.
Foods that are bitter, sour, saltish, excessively hot, pungent, harsh, and burning are preferred by rajasic men; and produce pain, sorrow, and disease.
Foods that are nutritionally worthless, insipid, putrid, stale, refuse, and impure are enjoyed by tamasic persons.
That yajna (sacrifice or performance of duty) is sattvic which is offered by men who desire no fruit of the action; and which is done in accordance with the scriptures, for the sake of righteousness only.
Know thou, O Best of the Bharatas (Arjuna)! that the yajna performed in the hope of reward and in an ostentatious spirit is rajasic in nature.
That yajna is condemned as tamasic which is without regard for the scriptural injunctions, without offerings of food and gifts of appreciation, 4 without sacred prayers or chants, and without devotion (to God).
Veneration of the Devas, the twice-born, the gurus, and the wise; purity, straightforwardness, continence, and nonviolence are considered the penance or austerity of the body.
Meditative communion with on e’s own true Self, and uttering words that cause no agitation and that are truthful, pleasant, and beneficial, are called the austerity of speech.
A calm and contented mental clarity, kindliness, silence, self-control, and purity of character constitute the austerity of the mind.
This threefold penance, sattvic in its nature, is practiced by persevering men possessing great devotion who desire no fruit of actions.
Austerities are said to be rajasic, unstable and fleeting, when practiced for the purpose of ostentation and for gaining me n’s recognition, honor, and homage.
Tamasic austerities are those based on ignorance or foolishness or performed for self-torture or for injuring others.
The good or sattvic gift is one made for the sake of righteousness, without expectation of anything in return, and is bestowed in proper time and place on a deserving person.
That gift is deemed rajasic which is offered with reluctance or in the thought of receiving a return or of gaining merit.
A tamasic gift is one bestowed at a wrong time and place, on an unworthy person, contemptuously or without goodwill.
“Aum-Tat-Sat” is considered to be the triple designation of Brahman (God). By this power were created, in the beginning, the Brahmins (knowers of Brahman), the Vedas, and the sacrificial rites.
Therefore the acts of the followers of Brahman—sacrifice, gift-giving, and austerities as enjoined by the scriptures—are always started with the chanting of “Aum.”
The seekers of liberation then perform the various rites of sacrifice, gift-giving, and austerities while concentrating on “Tat” without desiring results.
The word “Sat” is the designation of the Supreme Reality (beyond creation) and of goodness (emanating from It in all creation). “Sat” also refers to the higher forms of spiritual action.
The state of stability in the higher rites of sacrifice, self-discipline, and devotional offering is spoken of as “Sat” (communion with God as transcendent Cosmic Consciousness). Indeed, the same spiritual action connected with “Tat” (realization of God as immanent in creation) is also called “Sat.”
O Partha (Arjuna)! Whatever sacrifice is offered, gift bestowed, or austerity performed without faith (devotion) is called “asat.” It is worthless here and in the hereafter.