Chapter 17, Verse 4
Sraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga — Sanskrit shloka, transliteration, word meanings, English translation, and commentary.
Original Sanskrit verse
Transliteration
Word meanings
yajante—worship; sāttvikāḥ—those in the mode of goodness; devān—celestial gods; yakṣha—semi-celestial beings who exude power and wealth; rakṣhānsi—powerful beings who embody sensual enjoyment, revenge, and wrath; rājasāḥ—those in the mode of passion; pretān-bhūta-gaṇān—ghosts and spirits; cha—and; anye—others; yajante—worship; tāmasāḥ—those in the mode of ignorance; janāḥ—persons
English translation
The sattvic, or pure, men worship the gods; the rajasic, or passionate, worship the yakshas and rakshasas; the others, the tamasic or deluded people, worship ghosts and hosts of nature-spirits.
— Swami Sivananda
Listen to Shloka 17.4
Commentary
Lord Krishna; after defining faith; tells Arjuna how this faith determines the object of worship. The nature of the faith (whether it is Sattvic; Rajasic or Tamasic) has to be inferred from its characteristic effects; viz.; the worship of the gods and the like. Each man selects his object of worship according to the ruling Guna of his being. The expression of a mans faith depends on the Guna that is predominant in him. A Sattvic man will give his faith the Sattvic expression; a Rajasic man the Rajasic expression and a Tamasic man the Tamasic expression. Sattvic persons or people with Sattvic faith who are devoted to the worship of the gods; are rare in this world. Yakshas are the brothers of Kubera; the lord of wealth gnomes; the spirits that guard wealth. Rakshasas Beings of strength and power such as Nairrita demons giants gifted with illusive powers. Bhutas Ghosts.
Commentary by Swami Sivananda
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