"Varieties of faith"

There are three kinds of faith, corresponding to the three modes of material nature and derived from them. Acts performed by those whose faith refers to the modes of passion and ignorance bring only temporary, material benefits, while actions performed in virtue, according to the instructions of the sastras, purify the heart and lead to pure faith in Lord Krishna and devotion to Him.
A very important question is asked here. But can a person with great faith go forward if he believes in something of his own? Can this faith purify it, can it bring it to a higher platform of thinking? After all, so often we hear that the main thing is to believe, and then we will figure out what, in fact, we believed. And this is not just a question, it is a prediction of how we will think in our century. And we really think with the hope that faith will lead us to the goal of life itself, without our participation. We shifted all responsibility to faith, but we ourselves do not want to do anything. We believe, and this is enough. But in these verses such thinking is called suspicious.

TEXT 1


arjuna uvaca 
ye sastra-vidhim utsrijya 
yajante sraddhayanvitah 
tesam nishtha tu ka krsna 
sattvam aho rajas tamah
arjunah uvaca - Arjuna said; ye - which; sastra-vidhim — the injunctions of the sastras; utsridgeya - having cast aside; yajante - worship; sraddhaya - by firm faith; anvitah - endowed with; tesam - them; nistha - faith; tu - but; ka - what; krsna — O Krsna; sattvam - goodness; aho - or else; rajah - passion; tamah - ignorance.
Arjuna asked: O Krishna, what is the position of those who do not follow the precepts of the sastras but invent their own ways of worship? Under the influence of what mode - goodness, passion or ignorance - are they?

TEXT 2


sri-bhagavan uvcha 
tri-vidha bhavati sraddha 
dehinam sa svabhava-ja 
sattviki rajasi caiva 
tamasi teti cheti there shrinu
sri-bhagavan uvaca - the Supreme Lord said; tri-vidha — comprising three kinds; bhavati - becomes; sraddha - faith; dehinam - embodied souls; sa — she; sva-bhava-ja - corresponding to that mode of material nature under whose influence it is; sattviki - relating to the mode of goodness; rajasi - referring to the mode of passion; ca — also; eva - unconditionally; tamasi - referring to the mode of ignorance; ca - i; iti - in this way; there is hers; shrinu - hear from Me.
The Supreme Lord said: Depending on the modes of material nature, under the influence of which the embodied soul is situated, its faith can be of three kinds - in goodness, passion or ignorance. Hear from Me about it.

TEXT 3


sattvanurupa sarvasya 
sraddha bhavati bharata 
sraddha-mayo 'yam puruso 
yo yach-chhraddhah sa eva sah
sattva-anurupa - corresponding to the essence; sarvasya - of everything; sraddha - faith; bhavati - is; bharata - O son of Bharata; sraddha - of faith; mayah - complete; ayam - this; purusah - the living entity; yah - which; yat - which; sraddhah - (possessing) faith; sah then; eva - unconditionally; sah - it is.
O son of Bharata, under the predominant influence of one of the material modes, the living entity acquires the corresponding type of faith. It is said that the nature of his faith is determined by the modes that affect him.

TEXT 4


yajante sattvika devan 
yaksha-raksamsi rajasah 
pretan bhuta-ganamsh canye 
yajante tamasa janah
yajante - worship; sattvikah - those who are in the mode of goodness; devan - to the demigods; yaksa-raksamsi - to the demons; rajasah - those who are in the mode of passion; pretan - to the spirits of the dead; bhuta-ganan - to ghosts; ca - i; anye - others; yajante - worship; tamasah - those who are in the mode of ignorance; janah - people.
People in the mode of goodness worship the demigods, those in the mode of passion worship demons, and people in the mode of ignorance worship the spirits of the departed.

TEXTS 5 - 6


ashastra-vihitam ghoram 
tapyante ye tapo janah 
dambhahankara-samyuktah 
kama-raga-balanvanitah
karsayantah sarira-stham 
bhuta-gramam acetasah 
mam civantah sarira-stham 
tan viddhy asura-nishchayan
ashastra - by that which is not mentioned in the scriptures; vihitam - established; ghoram - harmful to others; tapyante - they do; ye - which; tapah - austerities; janah - people; dambha - out of pride; ahankara - and selfishness; samyuktah - those involved; kama - by lust; raga - and affection; bala - by force; anvitah - endowed with; karsayantah - torturing; sarira-stham - within the body; bhuta-gramam - the totality of material elements; acetasah - possessing a defective mind; mam - Me; ca — also; eva - unconditionally; antah - within; sarira-stham - situated in the body; tan - teh; viddhi - know; asura-nishchayan - of the demons.
Those who perform a severe austerity, not recommended in the scriptures, doing it out of pride or selfishness, those who are driven by lust and affection, who foolishly torture their material body and the Supersoul inside it, are called demons.

TEXT 7


aharas tv api sarvasya 
tri-vidho bhavati priyah 
yajnas tapas tatha 
danam tesam bhedam imam srina
aharah - food; tu - same; api - also; sarvasya — of everyone; tri-vidhah - including three kinds; bhavati - is; priyah - pleasant; yajnah - the sacrifice; tapah - austerity; tatha - also; danam - charity; tesam - them; bhedam - distinction; imam is that; shrinu - listen.
Even the food preferred by different people is divided into three types according to the three modes of material nature. The same applies to sacrifice, austerity (tapasya) and charitable activities. Now hear from Me about the differences between them.

TEXT 8


ayuh-sattva-balarogya 
sukha-priti-vivardhanah 
rasyah snigdhah sthira hridaya 
aharah sattvika-priyah
ayuh — life expectancy; sattva - existence; bala - power; arogya - health; sukha — happiness; priti — satisfaction; vivardhanah - increasing; rasyah - succulent; snigdhah - rich in fats; sthirah - wholesome; hridayah - pleasing to the heart; aharah - types of food; sattvika - to man in goodness; priyah - those who are like.
The food that people in the mode of goodness prefer, increases life expectancy, cleanses the mind, adds strength, health, brings happiness and satisfaction. It is juicy, oily, healthy, pleasing to the heart.

TEXT 9


katv-amla-lavanati-usna-tikshna-ruksa-vidahina 
ahara rajasasyesta 
duhkha-shokamaya-pradah
katu - bitter; amla - sour; lavana - salted; ati-usna - very spicy; tikshna - sharp; ruksha - dry; vidinah — hot; aharah - types of food; rajasasya - one who is in the mode of passion; ishtah - likeable; duhkha - grief; shocka - suffering; amaya — disease; pradah - the causers.
Too bitter, sour, salty, spicy, spicy, dry and very hot food like people in the mode of passion. Such food is a source of grief, suffering and disease.

TEXT 10


yata-yamam gata- 
rasam paths paryushitam ca yat 
uchchishtam api camedhyam 
bhojanam tamasa-priyam
yata-yamam - cooked three hours before a meal; gata-rasam - tasteless; ways - smelling foul; paryusitam - the old; ca — also; yat - which; uchhishtam - remaining after others; api - also; ca - i; amedhyam - unclean; bhojanam - food; tamasa - to one who is in the mode of darkness; priyam - pleasing.
Food prepared more than three hours before a meal, tasteless, stale, rotten, unclean and consisting of other people's leftovers, is pleasant to those who are in the mode of darkness.

TEXT 11


aphalakankshibhir yajno 
vidhi-dishto ya ijyate 
yastavyam eveti manah 
samadhaya sa sattvikah
aphala-akanshibhih - by those who are not striving for results; yajnah - the sacrifice; vidhi-distah - the following scriptural instructions; yah - which; ijyate - performed; yastavyam - destined for sacrifice; eva - unconditionally; iti - like that; manah - the mind; samadhaya - by concentrating; sah — that; sattvikah - situated in the mode of goodness.
Of all types of sacrifices, that which a person performs in accordance with the instructions of the scriptures, out of a sense of duty and without a desire to receive something in return, is called a sacrifice in goodness.

TEXT 12


abhisandhaya tu phalam 
dambhartham api caiva yat 
ijyate bharata- 
sreshtha tam yajnam viddhi rajasam
abhisandhaya - desiring; tu - but; phalam - the result; dambha - (for satisfaction) of pride; artham - destined; api - also; ca - i; eva - unconditionally; yat - which; ijyate - is being performed; bharata-srestha - O best of Bharat; there is that; yajnam - the sacrifice; viddhi - know; rajasam - referring to the mode of passion.
But a sacrifice made for the achievement of material goals or out of pride, O leader of the Bharata clan, is a sacrifice in the mode of passion.

TEXT 13


vidhi-hinam asrishtannam 
mantra-hinam adakshinam 
sraddha-virahitam yajnam 
tamasam paricakshate
vidhi-hinam - performed contrary to the instructions of the scriptures; asrsta-annam - not accompanied by the distribution of prasadam; mantra-hinam - one in which Vedic hymns are not performed; adakshinam - without remuneration of the priests; sraddha - of faith; virahitam - without; yajnam - the sacrifice; tamasam - related to the mode of ignorance; pariчakшate - they are called.
Any sacrifice made contrary to the rules of the scriptures, not accompanied by the distribution of prasadam [spiritual food] and the recitation of Vedic hymns, a sacrifice made without remuneration of the clergy and without faith, is called a sacrifice in the mode of ignorance.

TEXT 14


deva-dvija-guru-prajna-pujanam shaucham arjavam 
brahmacharyam ahimsa ca 
sariram tapa uchate
deva - to the Supreme Lord; dvija - to the brahmanas; guru - to the spiritual master; prajna — a person worthy of worship; pujanam - worship; saucam - purity; arjavam - directness; brahmacaryam - chastity; ahimsa - nonviolence; ca — also; sariram - related to the body; tapah - asceticism; ucyate - it is considered.
The penance for the body is worship of the Supreme Lord, the brahmanas, the spiritual master and elders, such as the father and mother, as well as purity, directness, chastity and non-violence.

TEXT 15


anudvega-karam vakyam 
satyam priya-hitam ca yat 
svadhyayabhyasanam civa 
van-miam tapa uchate
anudvega-karam - not disturbing; vakyam - speech; satyam - truthful; priya - for joy; hitam — auspicious; ca — also; yat - which; svadhyaya - by studying the Vedas; abhyasanam - activities; ca — also; eva - without fail; vak-mayam - relating to speech; tapah - austerity; ucyate - is called.
The penance of speaking consists in speaking truthful, pleasant words to people, aimed at good and not causing people anxiety, and also regularly studying Vedic scriptures.

TEXT 16


manah-prasadah saumyatvam 
maunam atma-vinigrahah 
bhava-samsuddhir it et etap 
tapo manasam uchate
manah-prasadah - satisfaction on the level of the mind; saumyatvam - the absence of duplicity; maunam - restraint; atma - oneself; vinigrahah - control; bhava - of his nature; samsuddhih - purification; iti - in this way; etat - this; tapah - austerity; manasam - of the mind; ucyate - is called.
Satisfaction, simplicity, restraint, self-control and purification of consciousness are called asceticism of the mind.

TEXT 17


sraddhaya paraya taptam 
tapas tat tri-vidham naraih 
aphalakankshibhir yuktaih 
sattvikam paricakshate
sraddhaya - with faith; paraya - transcendental; taptam - being done; tapah - austerity; tat - that; tri-vidham - including three kinds; naraih - by the people; aphala-akanshibhih - who do not aspire to the fruits of their labor; yuktaih - by the practitioners; sattvikam - referring to the mode of goodness; pariчakшate - they are called.
These three types of austerities performed by a person who possesses a transcendental faith, does not strive for material benefits and acts for the satisfaction of the Almighty, is called tapasya in the mode of goodness.

TEXT 18


satkara-mana-pujartham 
tapo dambhena caiva yat 
kriyate tad iha proktam 
rajasam chalam adhruvam
sat-kara - respect; mana - honor; puja - and worship; artham - whose purpose; tapah - austerity; dambhena - by pride; ca — also; eva - unconditionally; yat - which; kriyate - is performed; tat - that; iha - here (in this world); proktam - called; rajasam - relating to the mode of passion; chalam - unstable; adhruvam - fickle.
An austerity performed out of pride, in order to earn honor, respect and awe people, is a tapasya in the mode of passion. Such austerity cannot be constant and last long.

TEXT 19


mudha-grahenatmano yat 
pidaya kriyate tapah 
parasyotsadanartham wa 
tat tamasam udahritam
mudha - in stupidity; grahena - with tenacity; atmanah - oneself; yat - which; pidaya - with torture; kriyate - is done; tapah - austerity; parasya - of the other; utsadana-artham - in order to destroy; va - or; tat - that; tamasam - referring to the mode of darkness; udahrtam - considered.
The austerity that is done out of stupidity, which is accompanied by self-torture or is done in order to harm or bring death to others, is tapasya in the mode of ignorance.

TEXT 20


datavyam iti yad 
danam diyate 'nupakarine 
dese kale ca patre ca 
tad danam sattvik smrtam
datavyam — worthy of giving; iti - like that; yat - which; danam - a donation; diyate - is done; anupakarine - without the desire to receive anything in return; deshe - in the proper place; kale - at the proper time; ca — also; patre - when there is a worthy person; ca - i; tat - that; danam - a donation; sattvikam - referring to the mode of goodness; smrtam - considered.
Donations that are made out of a sense of duty, and not based on remuneration, which are made at the right time, in the right place for worthy people, are considered donations in the mode of goodness.

TEXT 21


yat tu pratyupakarartham 
phalam uddisya wa 
punah diate ca pariklishtam 
tad danam rajasam smritam
yat - which; tu - but; prati-upakara-artham - in order to receive something in return; phalam - the result; uddisya - having wished; va - or; punah - again; diyate - is given; ca — also; pariklishtam - reluctantly; tat - that; danam - a donation; rajasam - referring to the mode of passion; smrtam - considered.
At the same time, a donation made in reward, with a desire to enjoy its fruits in the future or reluctantly, is considered a donation in the mode of passion.

TEXT 22


adesha-kale yad 
danam apatrebhyash ca diyate 
asat-krtam avajnatam 
tat tamasam udahrtam
adesha - in a desecrated place; kale - and in adverse times; yat - which; danam - a donation; apatrebhyah - to unworthy people; ca — also; diyate - is given; asat-krtam - disrespectfully; avajnatam - without due attention; tat - that; tamasam - referring to the mode of darkness; udahrtam - considered.
A donation made in an unclean place, at an inopportune time, given to an unworthy person or made without due attention and respect, is considered a donation in the mode of ignorance.

TEXT 23


om tat sadi iti nirdesho 
brahmanas tri-vidhah smritah 
brahmanas tena vedash ca 
yajnash ca vihitah pura
om - the symbol of the Most High; tat - that; sat - the eternal; iti - like that; nirdesah - designation; brahmanah - of the Supreme; tri-vidhah - consisting of three; smrtah — considered; brahmanah - brahmanas; tena - with that; vedah - Vedic literatures; ca — also; yajnah - sacrifice; ca — also; vihitah - used; pura - before.
Since the beginning of creation, three words - om tat sat - have been used to denote the Supreme Absolute Truth. These three symbolic words were uttered by the brahmanas when they sang Vedic hymns and performed sacrifices in the name of the Most High.

TEXT 24


tasmad om ity udahrtya 
yajna-dana-tapah-kriyah 
pravartante vidhanoktah 
satatam brahma-vadinam
tasmat - therefore; om - (starting with) om; iti - in this way; udahrtya - by designating; yajna - of the sacrifice; dana - donations; tapah - and austerities; kriyah - acts; pravartante - begin; vidhana-uktah - according to the scriptural instructions; satatam - always; brahma-vadinam - people who have realized the nature of the spirit.
Therefore, making sacrifices, tapasya and giving donations in accordance with the instructions of the scriptures, people who have understood the nature of the spirit always begin them with the word om in order to reach the Almighty.

TEXT 25


tad ity anabhisandhaya 
phalam yajna-tapah-kriyah 
dana-kriyash ca vividhah 
kriyante moksha-kanksibhih
tat - that; iti - like that; anabhisandhaya - without seeking; phalam - the fruit; yajna - of the sacrifice; tapah - and austerities; kriyah - acts; dana - related to donations; kriyah - acts; ca — also; vividhah - various; kriyante - are performed; moksha-kanksibhih - by those who are really striving for liberation.
Not trying to enjoy the fruits of his labor, a person must perform various types of sacrifices and tapasya, give donations, pronouncing the word tat. The purpose of such spiritual activity is to free oneself from material captivity.

TEXTS 26 - 27


sad-bhave sadhu-bhave ca 
garden it et et 
prayujate prasaste karmani 
tatha sach-chabdah partha yujyate
yajne tapasi dane ca 
sthithih garden iti chocate 
karma civa tad-arthiyam 
garden ity evabhidhiyate
sat-bhave - (when meaning) the nature of the Supreme; sadhu-bhave - (when meaning) the nature of a devotee; ca — also; sat - the word sat; iti - in this way; etat is; prayujate - used; prasaste - in authority; karmani - activities; tatha - also; sat-sabdah - the sound of sat; partha - O son of Prtha; yujyate - used; yajne - in the performance of the sacrifice; tapasi - when performing austerities; dane - in charity; ca — also; sthitih — position; sat - the Most High; iti - in this way; ca - i; ucyate - pronounced; karma - activity; ca — also; eva - unconditionally; tat - for that; arthiyam - destined; sat - the Most High; iti - in this way; eva - unconditionally; abhidhiyate - called.
O son of Prtha, Absolute Truth is the goal of sacrificial activity in devotional service, and the word sat indicates it. The one who performs these sacrifices is also called sat, as well as the sacrifices themselves, penance and offerings, which, in accordance with their absolute nature, are intended to please the Supreme Person.

TEXT 28


ashraddhaya hutam dattam 
tapas taptam kritam ca yat 
asad ity ukyate partha 
na cha tat pretya no iha
ashraddhaya - with unbelief; hutam - sacrifice; dattam - given; tapah - austerity; taptam - fulfilled; krtam - perfect; ca — also; yat - which; asat - false; iti - like that; ucyate - is called; partha - O son of Prtha; na - not; ca — also; tat - that; pretya - having died; na y - not; iha - here (in this life).

Any sacrifices, offerings or tapasya, performed without faith in the Almighty, O son of Prtha, are transient. They are called asat, and they do not bring benefits either in this life or in the next.