हिन्दी
Arjun said - O Krishna! Where do they stand who disregard the injunctions of the scriptures, but still worship with faith? Is their faith in the mode of goodness, passion, or ignorance?
The Supreme Divine Personality said - Every human being is born with innate faith, which can be of three kinds—sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic. Now hear about this from Me.
The faith of all humans conforms to the nature of their mind. All people possess faith, and whatever the nature of their faith, that is verily what they are.
Those in the mode of goodness worship the celestial gods; those in the mode of passion worship the Yakshas and rakshasas; those in the mode of ignorance worship ghosts and spirits.
Those who burn only the great penance of the mind without the method of scripture and are also full of arrogance and ego and with pride of desire, attachment and strength.
Those who are going to destroy the ghost community in the body form and me, the Supreme Soul, who is in the heart, you should know those ignorant people with a devilish nature.
The food that people prefer is according to their dispositions. The same is true for the sacrifice, austerity, and charity they are inclined (or predisposed) toward. Now hear of the distinctions from Me.
Persons in the mode of goodness prefer foods that promote life span, and increase virtue, strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction. Such foods are juicy, succulent, nourishing, and naturally tasteful.
Foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty, very hot, pungent, dry, and full of chillies, are dear to persons in the mode of passion. Such foods produce pain, grief, and disease.
Foods that are overcooked, stale, putrid, polluted, and impure are dear to persons in the mode of ignorance.
Sacrifice that is performed according to scriptural injunctions without expectation of rewards, with the firm conviction of the mind that it is a matter of duty, is of the nature of goodness.
O best of the Bharatas! Know that sacrifice performed for material benefit, or with a hypocritical aim, is in the mode of passion.
Sacrifice devoid of faith and contrary to the injunctions of the scriptures, in which no food is offered, no mantras chanted, and no donation made, is to be considered in the mode of ignorance.
When worship of the Supreme Lord, the Brahmins, the spiritual master, the wise, and the elders is done with the observance of cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy, and non-violence then this worship is declared as the austerity of the body.
Words that do not cause distress, are truthful, inoffensive, and beneficial, as well as regular recitation of the Vedic scriptures—these are declared as austerity of speech.
Serenity of thought, gentleness, silence, self-control, and purity of purpose—all these are declared as austerity of the mind.
When devout persons with ardent faith practice these three-fold austerities without yearning for material rewards, they are designated as austerities in the mode of goodness.
Austerity that is performed with ostentation for the sake of gaining honor, respect, and adoration is in the mode of passion.
Its benefits are unstable and transitory.
Austerity that is performed by those with confused notions, and which involves torturing the self or harming others, is described to be in the mode of ignorance.
Charity given to a worthy person simply because it is right to give, without consideration of anything in return, at the proper time and in the proper place, is stated to be in the mode of goodness.
But charity given with reluctance, with the hope of a return or in expectation of a reward, is said to be in the mode of passion.
And that charity, which is given at the wrong place and wrong time to unworthy persons, without showing respect, or with contempt, is held to be of the nature of nescience.
The words “Om Tat Sat” have been declared as symbolic representations of the Supreme Absolute Truth, from the beginning of creation. From them came the priests, scriptures, and sacrifice.
Therefore, when performing acts of sacrifice, offering charity, or undertaking penance, expounders of the Vedas always begin by uttering “Om” according to the prescriptions of Vedic injunctions.
Persons who do not desire fruitive rewards, but seek to be free from material entanglements, utter the word “Tat” along with acts of austerity, sacrifice, and charity.
The word “Sat” means eternal existence and goodness. O Arjun, it is also used to describe an auspicious action.
Being established in the performance of sacrifice, penance, and charity, is also described by the word “Sat.”
And so, any act for such purposes is named “Sat.”
O son of Pritha! Whatever acts of sacrifice, charity, or penance are done without faith, are termed as “Asat.” They are useless both in this world and the next.
