BG 17.1 - 28

Those who disregard the directions of the scriptures, yet worship out of devotion - is their faith one of purity, passion, or ignorance?

[1]

Krishna replied:

Let me tell you of the types of faith in all embodied beings, born of their nature - pure faith, passionate faith, and ignorant faith.

[2]

Every person's faith is in accordance with their inner nature. All people possess faith, and whatever their faith may be, that is what they become.

[3]

The pure worship the gods, the passionate worship the powers of wealth and magic, while the ignorant worship ancestors and ghosts.

[4]

There are those who practice austerities not prescribed by the scriptures, enslaved to hypocrisy and their own ego, carried away by desire and passion.

[5]

These ignorant people who torment the organs in their bodies, as well as the part of me which resides in them, are of a demonic conviction.

[6]

Learn to distinguish between the types kinds of food, just as the threefold types of sacrifice, austerity, and charity.

[7]

Food that promotes longevity, alertness, strength, health, pleasure, and happiness, and those that are sweet, savory, substantial, and agreeable, are dear to pure people.

[8]

Food that is bitter, sour, salty, excessively spicy, pungent, dry, and bitter, is favored by those of a passionate nature. Such nourishment causes pain, sorrow, and disease.

[9]

Food which is stale, tasteless, putrid, unclean, or left over by others, is favored by those of an ignorant nature.

[10]

A pure sacrifice is one which is made with firm conviction, without desire for reward, in accordance with the commands of the scriptures.

[11]

Sacrifice which is performed for the sake of its results, or for self-glorification, is the product of passion.

[12]

Sacrifice which goes contrary to the scriptures, unaccompanied by prayer, offerings, and faith, is one of ignorance.

[13]

Worship of the gods, twice-borns, elders, and the wise, purity, honesty, straightforwardness, and nonviolence, are all austerities of the body.

[14]

Austerity of speech is only speaking that which causes no pain, carries the truth, is pleasant and beneficial to hear - like recitation of the scriptures.

[15]

Serenity of mind, benevolence, silence, self-control, and mental purity, are all austerities of the mind.

[16]

These three austerities, performed with faith and without concern toward reward, are the austerities of purity.

[17]

An austerity born of passion is practiced for the sake of respect, honor, reverence, and praise.

[18]

Austerities born of ignorance are practiced with deluded notions or the infliction of pain.

[19]

A pure gift is one that is given with no expectation of anything in return, at the proper time and place to a deserving person.

[20]

The gift which is given for the sake of the results it will produce, or given grudgingly, is a product of passion.

[21]

That gift which is given at the wrong place and the wrong time, to an unworthy recipient, without due respect or with contempt, is a gift born of ignorance.

[22]

"Om Tat Sat" is the threefold designation of Brahman, by which the scriptures, ceremonies, and sacrifices have been ordained.

[23]

The scriptures prescribed that all acts of sacrifice, gifts, and austerities commence with the utterance of "Om".

[24]

Acts of sacrifice, austerity, and charity, performed without thought of reward, are performed after uttering "Tat".

[25]

The word "Sat" refers to the existence of that which is good. As such, it is used to refer to an auspicious action.

[26]

Devotion to sacrifice, austerity, and charity is also referred to as "Sat", as is any action for such purposes.

[27]

Acts of sacrifice, charity, or penance, when performed without faith, are called "Asat". Such acts have no significance in this world and the next.

[28]

Next chapter

18. Renunciation and Surrender

Mokṣha Sanyās Yog