Chapter XVII - The Yoga of the Three Forms of Faiths

1. 
   Arjuna said:
   What is the state of devotion
   Of those who perform spiritual practices with faith
   But without following
   The scriptural injunctions, O Krishna?
   Is it Saattvika, Raajasika, or Taamasika?
2. 
   Krishna said:
   The natural faith of embodied beings is of three types:
   Saattvika, Raajasika, and Taamasika. Hear that from Me.
3. 
   O Arjuna, the faith of each is
   In accordance with one's own nature or Sanskaara.
   A person is known by the faith.
   One can become whatever one wants to be.
4. 
   The Saattvika persons worship Devas,
   The Raajasika people worship demigods and demons,
   And the Taamasika persons worship ghosts and spirits.
5. 
   Those who practice severe austerities
   Without following the scriptures,
   With hypocrisy and egotism, impelled by lust, and attachment;
6. 
   Senselessly torturing the elements in their body
   And also Me who dwell within the body;
   Know these ignorant persons to be of demonic nature.
7. 
   The food preferred by all
   Is also of three types.
   So are the sacrifice, austerity, and charity.
   Now hear the distinction between them.
8. 
   The foods that promote longevity, virtue,
   Strength, health, happiness, and joy;
   Are juicy, smooth, substantial, Such foods are dear to the Saattvika persons.
9. 
   Foods that are bitter, sour, salty,
   Very hot, pungent, dry, and burning;
   And cause pain, grief, and disease;
   Are liked by Raajasika persons.
10. 
    The foods liked by Taamasika persons
    Are half-cooked, tasteless, rotten,
    Stale, refuses, and impure
11. 
    Yajna enjoined by the scriptures,
    Performed with a firm belief that it is a duty,
    And without the desire for the fruit, is Saattvika Yajna.
12. 
    Yajna which is performed only for show,
    Or aiming for fruit, know that to be Raajasika Yajna, O Arjuna.
13. 
    Yajna that is performed
    Without following the scripture,
    In which no food is distributed,
    Which is devoid of mantra, faith, and gift,
    Is said to be Taamasika Yajna.
14. 
    The worship of Devas, Braahmana,
    Guru, and the wise; purity, honesty, celibacy,
    And nonviolence; these are said to be
    The austerity of deed.
15. 
    Speech that is not offensive, truthful,
    Pleasant, beneficial, and is used
    For the regular reading of scriptures
    Is called the austerity of word.
16. 
    The serenity of mind, gentleness, silence,
    Self-restraint, and the purity of mind
    Are called the austerity of thought.
17. 
    Threefold austerity practiced by yogis
    With supreme faith, without a desire for the fruit,
    Is said to be Saattvika austerity.
18. 
    Austerity that is done for gaining respect,
    Honor, reverence, and for show,
    Is said to be Raajasika, unsteady, and impermanent.
19. 
    Austerity performed without proper understanding,
    Or with self-torture, or for harming others,
    Is declared as Taamasika austerity.
20. 
    Charity that is given as a matter of duty,
    To a deserving candidate who does nothing in return,
    At the right place and time,
    Is called a Saattvika charity.
21. 
    Charity that is given unwillingly,
    Or to get something in return,
    Or looking for some fruit,
    Is called Raajasika charity.
22. 
    Charity that is given at a wrong place and time,
    To unworthy persons, without paying respect
    Or with contempt, is said to be Taamasika charity.
23. 
    "OM TAT SAT" is said to be
    The threefold name of Brahman.
    The Braahmana, the Vedas, and the Yajna
    Were created from this in the ancient time.
24. 
    Therefore, acts of sacrifice, charity,
    And austerity prescribed in the scriptures
    Are always commenced by uttering "OM"
    By the knowers of Brahman.
25. 
    Various types of sacrifice, charity, and austerity
    Are performed by the seekers of nirvana
    By uttering "TAT" without seeking a reward.
26. 
    SAT is used in the sense of reality and goodness.
    The word "SAT" is also used
    For an auspicious act, O Arjuna.
27. 
    Faith in sacrifice, charity, and austerity
    Is also called SAT.
    The action for the sake of the Supreme
    Is verily termed as SAT.
28. 
    Whatever is done without faith;
    Whether it is sacrifice, charity, austerity,
    Or any other act; is called Asat.
    It has no value here or hereafter, O Arjuna.

This is the end of Chapter XVII of the Bhagavad Gita
Entitled "Sraddha-Traya-Vibhaga-Yoga,"
Or "The Yoga of the Three Forms of Faith"