Sraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga

Arjuna said: Those who, having cast aside the rules of the scriptures (śāstra), sacrifice endowed with faith (śraddhā), What is their basis (niṣṭhā), O Dark one (Kṛṣṇa)? Is it goodness (sattva), passion (rajas), or darkness (tamas)?

The Blessed Lord (Śrī Bhagavān) said: Threefold is the faith (śraddhā) of the embodied ones, born of their own nature (svabhāva). Good (sāttvikī), passionate (rājasī), and dark (tāmasī); hear of it.

In accordance with the goodness (sattva) of everyone, faith (śraddhā) comes into being, O descendant of Bharata (Bhārata). This Person (puruṣa) is made of faith; whatever his faith is, that indeed he is.

The good (sāttvikāḥ) sacrifice to the gods; the passionate (rājasāḥ) to the Yakshas and Rakshasas; And others sacrifice to the spirits of the dead (pretān) and the multitudes of ghosts (bhūta), the people of darkness (tāmasāḥ).

Those people who undergo terrible austerity (tapas), which is not enjoined by the scriptures (śāstra), Joined with hypocrisy (dambha) and ego (ahaṅkāra), endowed with the force of desire (kāma) and passion (rāga),

Tormenting the multitude of elements situated in the body, the unthinking ones, And Me as well, situated within the body; know them to be of demonic resolve (āsuraniścayān).

But even the food that is dear to everyone is of three kinds, And sacrifice (yajña), austerity (tapas), and charity (dāna); hear this distinction of theirs.

Promoting life, goodness (sattva), strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction, Juicy, soft, firm, and hearty, are the foods dear to the good (sāttvika).

Pungent, sour, salty, excessively hot, sharp, harsh, and burning, Are the foods desired by the passionate (rājasa), causing sorrow, grief, and sickness.

Stale, tasteless, putrid, and left overnight, Even leftover and impure, is the food dear to those of darkness (tāmasa).

That sacrifice (yajña) which is offered according to the rules, by those not desiring the fruit, Having fixed the mind, thinking "It must be sacrificed," that is of goodness (sāttvika).

But having aimed at the fruit, and even for the sake of hypocrisy (dambha), What is sacrificed, O best of the Bharatas (Bharataśreṣṭha), know that sacrifice (yajña) to be of passion (rājasa).

Without rules, without the distribution of food, without mantras, without the priest's fee (dakṣiṇā), Destitute of faith (śraddhā), the sacrifice (yajña) is declared to be of darkness (tāmasa).

The worship of the gods, the twice-born (dvija), teachers (guru), and the wise (prājña), purity, uprightness, Celibacy (brahmacarya), and non-violence (ahiṃsā); this is called the austerity (tapas) of the body.

Speech causing no agitation, true (satya), pleasant, and beneficial, And the practice of the study of the scriptures (svādhyāya); this is called the austerity (tapas) of speech.

Tranquility of mind, gentleness, silence, self-restraint, And extreme purity of being (bhāva); this is called the austerity (tapas) of the mind.

This threefold austerity (tapas) performed by men with supreme faith (śraddhā), Disciplined (yuktaiḥ) and not desiring the fruit, they declare to be of goodness (sāttvika).

Austerity (tapas) which is performed for the sake of honor, respect, and worship, and even with hypocrisy (dambha), That is declared here to be of passion (rājasa), unstable and impermanent.

Austerity (tapas) which is performed by deluded grasping, with torment of the self (ātman), Or for the purpose of destroying another, that is declared to be of darkness (tāmasa).

"It must be given," thus the charity (dāna) that is given, to one who does no service in return, In the proper place, at the proper time, and to a worthy recipient (pātre), that charity is remembered as of goodness (sāttvika).

But that which is given for the sake of a return service, or again aiming at the fruit, And given reluctantly (parikliṣṭam), that charity (dāna) is remembered as of passion (rājasa).

Charity (dāna) that is given at the wrong place and time, and to unworthy recipients (apātrebhyaḥ), Without respect and with contempt, that is declared to be of darkness (tāmasa).

Om Tat Sat, this is remembered as the threefold designation of Brahman. By that, the brahmins (brāhmaṇāḥ), the Vedas, and the sacrifices (yajñāḥ) were ordained of old.

Therefore, having uttered "Om", the acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity (yajñadānatapaḥkriyāḥ), Proceed continuously, as declared by the rules, for the expounders of Brahman (brahmavādinām).

"Tat" (That), without aiming at the fruit, the acts of sacrifice and austerity, And the various acts of charity, are performed by those desiring liberation (mokṣa).

In the sense of reality (sadbhāva) and in the sense of goodness (sādhubhāva), this word "Sat" is used; And likewise for a praiseworthy action (karma), the word "Sat" is applied, O son of Pritha (Pārtha).

Steadfastness in sacrifice (yajña), austerity (tapas), and charity (dāna) is also called "Sat"; And indeed action (karma) for the sake of these, is designated exactly as "Sat".

Whatever is offered, given, performed as austerity (tapas), or done without faith (aśraddhayā), It is called "Asat" (unreal), O son of Pritha (Pārtha); it is not for the next world, nor here.