Book of Krishna (Bhagavad gita)

icon17   The Three Divisions of Material Existence

1O Arjuna, the faith of each is in accordance with one’s own natural disposition that is governed by Karmic impressions. A person is known by the faith. One can become whatever one wants to be, if one constantly contemplates on the object of desire with faith.
2Persons in the mode of goodness worship celestial controllers; those in the mode of passion worship supernatural rulers and demons; and those in the mode of ignorance worship ghosts and spirits.
3They who practice severe austerities without following the prescription of the scriptures; who are full of hypocrisy and egotism; who are impelled by the force of desire and attachment; who senselessly torture the elements in their body and also Me who dwells within the body, know these ignorant persons to be of demonic nature.
4The food preferred by all of us is also of three types. So are the sacrifice, austerity, and charity. Now hear the distinction between them.
5The foods that promote longevity, virtue, strength, health, happiness, and joy are juicy, smooth, substantial, and nutritious. Persons in the mode of goodness like such foods.
6Foods that are very bitter, sour, salty, hot, pungent, dry, and burning; and cause pain, grief, and disease; are liked by persons in the mode of passion.
7The foods liked by people in the mode of ignorance are stale, tasteless, putrid, rotten, refuses, and impure (such as meat and alcohol).
8Selfless service enjoined by the scriptures, and performed without the desire for the fruit, with a firm belief and conviction that it is a duty, is in the mode of goodness.
9Selfless service that is performed only for show, and aiming for fruit, know that to be in the mode of passion, O Arjuna.
10Selfless service 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 in the mode of ignorance.
11The worship of celestial controllers, the priest, guru, and the wise; purity, honesty, celibacy, and nonviolence; these are said to be the austerity of deed.
12Speech that is non-offensive, truthful, pleasant, beneficial, and is used for the regular study of scriptures is called the austerity of word.
13The serenity of mind, gentleness, equanimity, self-control, and the purity of thought ¾ these are called the austerity of thought.
14The above mentioned threefold austerity (of thought, word, and deed) practiced by yogis with supreme faith, without a desire for the fruit, is said to be in the mode of goodness.
15Austerity that is performed for gaining respect, honor, reverence, and for the sake of show that yields an uncertain and temporary result is said to be in the mode of passion.
16Austerity performed with foolish stubbornness, or with self-torture, or for harming others, is declared to be in the mode of ignorance.
17Charity that is given as a matter of duty, to a deserving candidate who does nothing in return, at the right place and time, is considered to be charity in the mode of goodness.
18Charity that is given unwillingly, or to get something in return, or looking for some fruit, is said to be in the mode of passion.
19Charity that is given at a wrong place and time, and to unworthy persons; or without paying respect to the receiver or with ridicule, is said to be in the mode of ignorance.
20The Spirit is all pervading. The persons with divine qualities, the Vedas, and the selfless service were created by and from the Spirit.
21Therefore, acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity prescribed in the scriptures are always commenced by uttering any one of the many names of God such as OM, Amen, or Allah by the knowers of the Supreme.
22The seekers of salvation perform various types of sacrifice, charity, and austerity by uttering "He is all" without seeking a reward.
23The word "Truth" is used in the sense of Reality and goodness. The word Truth is also used for an auspicious act, O Arjuna.
24Faith in sacrifice, charity, and austerity is also called Truth. The selfless service for the sake of the Supreme is verily termed as Truth.
25Whatever is done without faith ¾ whether it is sacrifice, charity, austerity, or any other act ¾ is useless. It has no value here or hereafter, O Arjuna.