The Path of Recognition of Three Kinds of Faith
There are twenty-eight verses in this chapter, one spoken by Arjuna and twenty-seven spoken by Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa. In the previous chapter, Kṛṣṇa declared that anyone who does not follow the ordinances of scripture and acts in an arbitrary way according to his or her own whim, attains neither perfection, nor contentment, nor the supreme goal. Arjuna assumed that only a few people were actually familiar with those ordinances. The rest worshiped according to their family tradition, social order (āśrama), innate faith, and so on.
Kṛṣṇa explained that, on the one hand, due to their disregard for the ordinances of the scriptures, they should be considered as ungodly, yet on the other hand, their faith should qualify them to be considered among those of the divine nature. With this in mind, Arjuna asks Kṛṣṇa about the different kinds of faith (1). Bhagavān replies by describing three kinds of faith that are in accordance with a person’s previously acquired nature (2). He explains that faith can be recognized by observing a person’s object of worship, the nature of the penances he performs, the food he eats, the type of yajña he performs, and the charity he offers (5–22). After this, Kṛṣṇa explains the threefold appellation of Brahman, Oṁ, Tat, and Sat, in the actions of sacrifice ( yajña), charity, and penance (23–27). He concludes by saying that any sacrifice, charity, or penance performed without faith bears no fruit, either in this world or after death (28).
All Verses
- Verse 1Arjuna inquired: O Kṛṣṇa, what is the conviction of those who, although endowed with faith, engage in worship while setting aside the injunctions of scripture? Is it of the nature of sattva, rajas, or tamas?
- Verse 2Śrī Bhagavān replied: The faith of embodied beings is of three types, namely, sāttvika, rājasika, and tāmasika. Such faith is born of one’s previously acquired nature. Now hear about this.
- Verse 3O descendant of Bharata, everyone’s faith is according to their individual psychological make-up. The empirical self is in fact a by-product of faith. Therefore, whatever faith a person demonstrates is exactly the faith with which he is endowed.
- Verse 4Those who have a sāttvika disposition worship the devas, those with a rājasika disposition worship the yakṣas and rākṣasas*, whereas other people of tāmasika disposition worship ghosts and evil spirits.
- Verse 5-6Those persons who are fraught with ostentation and egotism, and who are impelled by desire, attachment, and virility, perform terrible austerities not approved by the scriptures. Being bereft of discrimination, they torture the elements constituting their bodies as well as Me situated interior to the body. Know them to be of ungodly resolve.
- Verse 7The food which people prefer is also of three types, as are their sacrifice, austerity, and charity. Please hear about the divisions of these items.
- Verse 8Foods that increase longevity, enthusiasm, strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction, and that are savory, fatty, wholesome, and pleasing to the heart are dear to people who are influenced primarily by sattva.
- Verse 9Foods that are too bitter, sour, salty, excessively hot, pungent, dry, and burning, and which cause suffering, grief, and disease, are dear to people who are influenced primarily by rajas.
- Verse 10Food that is old [cooked more than three hours before being eaten], insipid, putrid, stale, leftover from someone else, and impure, is dear to people who are influenced primarily by tamas.
- Verse 11That yajña which is performed according to scriptural injunctions by those without desire for material benefit, who have fixed their minds with the understanding that yajña must certainly be performed as a duty, is of the nature of sattva.
- Verse 12But, O best of the Bharatas, know that yajña which is performed by those expecting results and merely as a matter of show to be of the nature of rajas.
- Verse 13That yajña which neglects scriptural injunctions, in which no food is distributed, no mantras are chanted, no gifts are offered to the priests, and that is performed without faith, is said to be of the nature of tamas.
- Verse 14Worship of the devas, the brāhmaṇas, teachers, and enlightened beings, as well as purity, simplicity, continence, and non-violence, are said to be austerities related to the body.
- Verse 15Speech that is not annoying to others, that is truthful, pleasing, and beneficial, as well as the regular study and recitation of the Vedas, is said to be the austerity of speech.
- Verse 16Serenity of mind, sobriety, silent contemplation, self-restraint, and purity of awareness — all these are said to be austerity of the mind.
- Verse 17This threefold austerity [of body, speech, and mind], performed with supreme faith by people who are steadfast and without desire for material gain, is said to be of the nature of sattva.
- Verse 18That austerity which is undertaken solely for the purpose of self-glorification, honor, and worship, which is performed with ostentation, and which is flickering and transitory, is declared in this world to be of the nature of rajas.
- Verse 19That austerity which is performed out of a foolish whim, with self-torture, or for the destruction of others, is said to be of the nature of tamas.
- Verse 20Charity given as a matter of duty, without any expectation of return, and in due consideration of the appropriate place, the suitable time, and the worthiness of the recipient is considered to be of the nature of sattva.
- Verse 21But charity given with the expectation of receiving a favor in return or in anticipation of the fruit, and moreover which is handed over begrudgingly is of the nature of rajas.
- Verse 22Charity given at an inappropriate place and time, to unworthy recipients, without respect and disdainfully, is said to be of the nature of tamas.
- Verse 23The words Oṁ, Tat, and Sat are called the threefold appellation of Brahman, the Absolute Truth. It is out of these three words that the brāhmaṇas, the Vedas, and sacrifices were originated in the days of yore.
- Verse 24Therefore, the acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity ordained by the scriptures that are undertaken by the followers of the Vedas are always preceded by the recitation of the sacred syllable Oṁ.
- Verse 25The various acts of sacrifice and austerity, as well as acts of charity, are performed by the seekers of liberation without anticipating any reward while uttering the word Tat.
- Verse 26The word Sat is used to indicate the Absolute as well as the worshipers of the Absolute. Similarly, the word Sat is employed in the performance of auspicious acts, O Arjuna.
- Verse 27Steadiness in sacrifice, austerity, and charity is also called Sat, and indeed action performed for the sake of the Absolute is verily termed Sat.
- Verse 28O son of Pṛthā, whatever is offered in the sacrificial fire, whatever is given in charity, whatever austerity is undertaken, and whatever other auspicious actions are performed without faith, are all termed as asat, or worthless, because they bear no fruit, neither here nor after death.