In this Chapter, Bhagavan Krishna talks about the three different types of Faith of the jivas – The Faith of the Jivas who have sattvic nature, Rajasic nature and the Tamasic nature.

The faith of a jiva is based on his nature.  A man consists of his faith; as a man’s faith is, so is he.  If a jiva has faith that only dharma and bhakti will take him to heights, then in his life all the circumstances and situations will align accordingly.  If he feels that giving bribe and injustice will take him to heights, then the situations will align accordingly.  If he has faith that adharma will only win in the present time then his situations will align accordingly.

A man of sattvic nature worship the gods.  The Rajasic people worship the Rakshasas and the yakshas.  The tamasic people worship the ghosts and pichashas.  According to the gunas, the mode of worship, and the God they choose to worship will differ.

The three types of worship

Sattvika worship – worshipping Bhagavan just to love him, without expecting any rewards

Rajasika worship – worshiping Bhagavan for material benefits

Tamasika worship – worshiping Bhagavan with severe austerities, out of hypocrisy, egoism, worshiping by torturing the body etc.

Three Types of food

Sattvic food – The food which increases life, purity, strength, health, joy and cheerfulness, substantial and agreeable are sattvic food.

Rajasic food – That which are bitter, sour, Saline, excessively hot, pungent, dry and burning are rajasic food and they are productive of pain and disease.

Tamasic food – That which is stale, tasteless, putrid, rotten are tamasic food. Such types of food make the mind dull

The Three types of sacrifice.

Sattvic sacrifice -That sacrifice which is offered by men without desire for results, enjoined by the scriptures with a firm faith that to do so is a duty is sattvic or pure.

Rajasic sacrifice – A sacrifice offered with the intension of getting a reward is Rajasic

Tamasic sacrifice -That sacrifice which is opposite to the ordinance of the scriptures which is devoid of mantras, gifts, food is said as tamasic

Three types of Austerities

Austerity of the body – worship of gods, the twice-born, the teachers and the wise, purity, straight forwardness and non-injury to fellow beings.

Austerities of speech – speech which causes no excitement, truth, pleasant and beneficial, practice of the study of the Vedas

Austerity of the mind – Serenity of mind, good-heartedness, self-control, purity of nature.

Sattvic Austerity -This threefold Austerity, practised by steadfast men, with the utmost faith, desiring no reward is sattvic.

Rajasic Austerity -The austerity which is practised with the object of gaining good reception honour and worship and with hypocrisy is said to be rajasic.

Tamasic Austerity -That austerity which is practised out of a foolish notion, with self-torture or for the purpose of destroying another one is tamasic.

Three types of Gifts.

Sattvic gift -That gift which is given to the one who does nothing in return, knowing it to be a duty to give in a fit place and time to a worthy person is sattvic

Rajasic gift – That gift which is given with a view to receive something in return or looking for a reward, or reluctantly is said as Rajasic.

Tamasic gift -That gift which is given at a wrong place and time, to unworthy persons, without respect or with insult is said as Tamasic.

OM is the abode of the Brahmanas, Vedas and sacrifices. Therefore, OM should be uttered while doing sacrifice, or giving gifts or while doing austerities

Bhagavan Krishna concludes this Chapter by saying that whatever is sacrificed, given or performed and whatever austerity is practised without faith is considered as ’Asat’.

So, one must have strong faith in whatever action he performs.