BG 17.4
The pure worship the gods, the passionate worship the powers of wealth and magic, while the ignorant worship ancestors and ghosts.
प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः
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yajante — worship
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sāttvikā — those who are pure
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devān — celestial gods
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yakṣha-rakṣhānsi — gods of wealth and demonic beings
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yakṣha — celestial beings of power and wealth
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rakṣhānsi — demonic beings of sensual enjoyment, revenge, and wrath
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rājasāḥ — those who are passionate
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pretān — departed spirit
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bhūta-gaṇānśh — ghosts
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bhūta — ghost
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gaṇānśh — follower
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chānye — and others
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yajante — worship
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tāmasā — those who are ignorant
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janāḥ — people
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. 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. The pure worship the gods, the passionate worship the powers of wealth and magic, while the ignorant worship ancestors and ghosts.
Similar verses
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Those who worship the gods, go to the gods. Those who worship the ancestors, go to the ancestors. But only those who worship me shall come to me.
- Verse 9.25
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Those whose wisdom has been carried away by material desires, worship other Gods and practice whatever rites they prefer.
- Verse 7.20
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Worship of the gods, twice-borns, elders, and the wise, purity, honesty, straightforwardness, and nonviolence, are all austerities of the body.
- Verse 17.14
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Even those who are devotees of other gods, and worship them with faith, worship me alone, albeit in an incorrect manner.
- Verse 9.23
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There are four kinds of people who worship me - the pious, the seekers of knowledge, the seekers of material gain, and the wise.
- Verse 7.16