Vyasa · a new plain-English translation from the Sanskrit
17.1 Arjuna said: Krishna, those who set aside the rule of scripture but sacrifice full of faith — what is their standing? Is it sattva, rajas, or tamas?
17.2 The Blessed Lord said: The faith of embodied beings is of three kinds, born of their own nature: sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic. Hear about this.
17.3 The faith of every person conforms to their inner being, Bharata. A person is made of faith; whatever faith one has, that indeed is what one is.
17.4 Sattvic people worship the gods; rajasic people worship yakshas and rakshasas; others, tamasic people, worship ghosts and hosts of spirits.
17.5 Those who perform severe austerities not enjoined by scripture, joined with hypocrisy and egotism, driven by the force of desire and attachment,
17.6 senselessly torment the collection of elements that make up the body, and me as well, dwelling within the body — know these to be of demonic resolve.
17.7 Even the food that everyone prefers is of three kinds, as are sacrifice, austerity, and giving. Hear now the distinction between them.
17.8 Foods that increase life, vitality, strength, health, joy, and satisfaction, that are savory, rich, substantial, and pleasing to the heart — these are dear to the sattvic person.
17.9 Foods that are bitter, sour, salty, excessively hot, sharp, dry, and burning are craved by the rajasic person, and they bring suffering, grief, and sickness.
17.10 Food that is stale, tasteless, putrid, or spoiled, and what is left over or unclean, is dear to the tamasic person.
17.11 The sacrifice offered according to rule by those who seek no fruit, their minds fixed only on the thought that sacrifice ought to be performed — that is sattvic.
17.12 But the sacrifice offered with an eye toward its fruit, or for the sake of show, O best of the Bharatas — know that sacrifice to be rajasic.
17.13 The sacrifice that disregards the rule, without distribution of food, without sacred verses, without gifts to priests, and without faith — this they declare to be tamasic.
17.14 Reverence for gods, brahmins, teachers, and the wise, purity, uprightness, celibacy, and nonviolence — this is called the austerity of the body.
17.15 Speech that causes no distress, that is truthful, pleasant, and beneficial, and the regular practice of scriptural study — this is called the austerity of speech.
17.16 Serenity of mind, gentleness, silence, self-restraint, and purity of intention — this is called the austerity of the mind.
17.17 This threefold austerity, practiced with the highest faith by people who seek no fruit and are disciplined, is called sattvic.
17.18 Austerity performed for the sake of honor, respect, and reverence, and with hypocrisy, is here declared to be rajasic — unstable and impermanent.
17.19 Austerity performed out of a foolish conviction, with self-torment, or for the purpose of destroying another, is called tamasic.
17.20 A gift given simply because it ought to be given, to one who can give nothing in return, in the proper place and time and to a worthy recipient — that gift is held to be sattvic.
17.21 But the gift given with an eye toward a return, or with the fruit in view, or given reluctantly — that gift is held to be rajasic.
17.22 The gift given at the wrong place and time, to an unworthy recipient, without respect and with contempt — that is declared to be tamasic.
17.23 'Om Tat Sat' — this is remembered as the threefold designation of Brahman. By this, in ancient times, the brahmins, the Vedas, and the sacrifices were ordained.
17.24 Therefore, uttering 'Om,' the acts of sacrifice, giving, and austerity as prescribed by rule are always begun by those who speak of Brahman.
17.25 Uttering 'Tat,' and without regard for the fruit, the various acts of sacrifice, austerity, and giving are performed by those who seek liberation.
17.26 The word 'Sat' is used in the sense of being and of goodness, and it is likewise applied, Partha, to an admirable action.
17.27 Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity, and giving is also called 'Sat,' and action for that purpose is likewise termed 'Sat.'
17.28 Whatever is offered, given, or performed, and whatever austerity is undertaken without faith, is called 'Asat,' Partha — it counts for nothing, either here or hereafter.