Sraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga

Arjuna said: Krishna, what is the state of those who set aside the rules of scripture, yet worship with faith? Is it sattva, rajas, or tamas?

Krishna said: The faith of embodied beings is of three kinds. It is born of their own nature. It can be sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic. Listen.

Arjuna, everyone's faith matches their own nature. A person is made of faith. Whatever their faith is, that is what they are.

Those of sattva worship the gods. Those of rajas worship the yakshas and rakshasas. Those of tamas worship ghosts and hosts of spirits.

There are people who take up harsh austerities that scripture does not enjoin. They act out of hypocrisy and pride, driven by the force of desire and attachment.

Without discernment, they torment the elements that form the body, and they torment Me, who dwell within the body. Know them to be set on a demonic course.

Food too, dear to all, is of three kinds. So are sacrifice, austerity, and charity. Listen to how they differ.

Foods that lengthen life, and increase strength, health, happiness, and cheer, that are succulent, rich, substantial, and pleasing, are dear to those of sattva.

Foods that are bitter, sour, salty, very hot, pungent, dry, and burning are dear to those of rajas. They bring pain, grief, and disease.

Food that is stale, tasteless, putrid, and left overnight, as well as scraps and what is unclean, is dear to those of tamas.

The sacrifice offered as scripture prescribes, by those who seek no fruits, with the settled conviction that it simply ought to be done, is sattvic.

But the sacrifice offered with an eye on the fruits, and for show, Arjuna, know that to be rajasic.

A sacrifice offered against the rules of scripture, with no food given out, with no chanting of the sacred verses, with no gifts to the priests, and empty of faith: this they call a sacrifice of darkness.

Worship of the gods, of the twice-born, of teachers, and of the wise; purity, honesty, continence, and not harming any creature: these are called the austerity of the body.

Speech that gives no pain, that is true, kind, and helpful, along with the regular study of the scriptures: this is called the austerity of speech.

Calmness of mind, gentleness, silence, self-control, and purity of heart: these are called the austerity of the mind.

When this threefold austerity is practiced with the highest faith by people who are steady and seek no fruits, it is called an austerity of light.

Austerity done for the sake of respect, honor, and reverence, and done for show, is called here an austerity of passion. It is unsteady and does not last.

Austerity practiced out of a deluded notion, with torture of oneself, or in order to destroy another, is said to be an austerity of darkness.

A gift given because it ought to be given, offered to one who cannot give back, at the right place, at the right time, and to a worthy person: that gift is held to be of light.

But a gift given to be repaid, or for the sake of some fruit, or given grudgingly, is held to be of passion.

A gift given at the wrong place and the wrong time, to those who do not deserve it, without respect and with contempt, is said to be of darkness.

Om Tat Sat: this is held to be the threefold name of Brahman. By it, in ancient times, the priests, the Vedas, and the sacrifices were ordained.

And so those who study and expound Brahman always begin their acts of sacrifice, giving, and austerity, as laid down in scripture, by first uttering Om.

After uttering "Tat," those who seek liberation perform acts of sacrifice, austerity, and the various acts of giving without aiming at the fruits.

The word "Sat" is used in the sense of existence and goodness. So too, Arjuna, the word "Sat" is applied to an auspicious act.

Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity, and giving is also called "Sat." And any action meant for these is called "Sat" as well.

Whatever is offered in sacrifice, given in charity, or undertaken as austerity, and whatever is done without faith, is called "Asat," Arjuna. It has no value here or hereafter.