अर्जुन उवाच ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयाऽन्विताः। तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः॥
Arjuna said What is the state, Krishna, of those that neglects the ordinance of the scriptures and perform sacrifices with faith? Is it one of Sattva, Raja or Tama?
श्रीभगवानुवाच त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा। सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेतितां शृणु॥
The great one said The faith of man is of three kinds. They are born according to his individual nature. They are also of Sattva, Raja, and Tama. Hear what they are.
सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत। श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः॥
The faith of man, O Bharata is according to his own nature. A man may be full of faith, and as his faith is so he will be.
यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान् यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः। प्रेतान् भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः॥
Those who are of the Sattva quality worship the celestial, those of Raja worship Yakshas and Rakshasas, and those of Tama do the same to departed spirits and ghosts.
अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः। दम्भाहंकारसंयुक्तः कामरागबलान्विताः॥
Those who practice severe penances not ordained by the Vedas, who are full of hypocrisy and pride, desire, attachment and violence.
कर्शयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः। मां चैवान्तः शरीरस्थं तान् विद्ध्यासुरनिश्चयान्॥
Who has no discernment, but who torture their physical organs, thereby torturing Me who seat within the body, should be known to be of demoniac nature.
आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रियः। यज्ञस्तपस्तथा दानं तेषां भेदमिमं शृणु।॥
Food which is dear to all is also of three kinds. Sacrifice, penance, and gifts are also of three kinds. Hear from Me their distinction, one
आयुः सत्त्ववलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः। रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिरा हृद्या आहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः।।
The food that increase longevity, energy, strength, health, and well-being and joy, and which is savoury, indigenous, and agreeable, is liked by men of Sattva nature.
कट्वाललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः। आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः॥
The food which is bitter, sour, salted, overhot, pungent, dry and burning, and which produces pain, grief and disease, is desired by a man of Raja temperament.
यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत्। उच्छिष्टमपि चामेध्यं भोजनं तामसप्रियम्॥
The food which is cold, not savory, stinky, corrupt, filthy and a refuse, is liked by men of Tama.
अफलाकाक्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते। यष्टव्यमेवेति मन: समाधाय स सात्त्विकः॥
Sattva Sacrifice is which being prescribed by the Shastras, is performed by a man who desires no fruit from it, and who performs it by believing it to be only a duty.
अभिसंधाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत्। इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम्॥
But O chief son of Bharata, Raja Sacrifice is that which is performed in expectation of receiving fruits from it and for ostentatious show.
विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम्। श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते॥
And Tama sacrifice is that which is performed against the ordinances of the Shastras in which food is not distributed, Mantras are not recited, fees are not paid to the assisting priests and which is void of faith.
देवदविजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम्। ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते॥
Reverence to Celestial, regenerate ones, preceptors, and learned men, and purity, uprightness, the practices of a Brahmachary, and abstention from injury, constitute the penance of body.
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्। स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वारड्मयं तप उच्यते॥
The words that does not disturb any body and which is agreeable, true and beneficial, and the diligent study of the Vedas, is the penance of speech.
मनःप्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः। भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत् तपो मानसमुच्यते॥
Serenity of mind, gentleness, taciturnity, self restraint, and purity of disposition, constitute the penance of mind.
श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत् त्रिविधं नरैः। अफलार्काक्षिभिर्युक्तैः सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते॥
Now Sattva Penance is that in which this three-fold penance is performed with perfect faith, with devotion and without the desire for fruit.
सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत्। क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम्॥
Raja Penance is that which is performed with hypocrisy for gaining respect honour, and revenue, and which is unstable and transient.
मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत् पीडया क्रियते तपः। परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत् तामसमुदाहृतम्॥
Tama Penance is that which is performed under a deluded belief, and with torture of one's self, and for the destruction of another,
दातव्यमिति यद् दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे। देशे काले च पात्रे च तद् दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम्॥
Sattva gift is that which is given because it ought to be given; it is given to one who cannot return it in any way; it is given in a proper place, at a proper time, and to a proper person.
यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः। दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद् दानं राजसं स्मृतम्॥
Raja gift is that which is given reluctantly, for return of some sort of service or benefit, and with an eye to fruit.
अदेशकाले यद् दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते। श्रऊसत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत् तामसमुदाहृतम्॥
Tama gift is that which is given without respect and with contempt to an unworthy object in an improper place and at an improper time.
ॐ तत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः। ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा॥
Om, Tat, Sat, these are the threefold designation of Brahma. The Brahmanas, the Vedas and the Yajnas are all ordained in ancient time by Brahma.
तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपः क्रियाः। प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम्॥
Therefore, uttering the syllable, Om, all utterers of Brahma begin their sacrifices, fits and penances, as ordained in the Shastras.
तदित्यनभिसंधाय फलं यज्ञतप:क्रियाः। दानक्रियाश्च विविधा क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाक्षिभिः॥
Uttering TAT, the various sacrifices, gifts and penances are performed by those who desire emancipation, and who do not without expectation of fruit.
सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत् प्रयुज्यते। प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते॥
Sat denotes existence and goodness, O Partha; it is used in any suspicious acts.
यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते। कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सदित्येवाभिधीयते॥
Constancy in sacrifices, penances and gifts is also called SAT. For its sake an act is also called SAT.
अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत्। असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत् प्रेत्य नो इह॥
Whatever oblation is offered in a sacrifice, whatever is given away, whatever penance is performed, and whatever is done, if done without faith, is, O Partha the opposite of SAT. It (opposite of SAT) will do no good to the life in this world or hereafter in the next.