The air of Kurukshetra is heavy with silence. Arjuna, with eyes full of devotion, reflects upon Krishna’s words of divine and demonic qualities. He has heard that some are born to rise toward liberation and others fall into bondage. Yet he wonders — what of those who live with faith, but not according to scripture? What of those who believe, who worship, but in their own ways?
With humility, Arjuna bows.
O Krishna, tell me of those who sacrifice and worship with faith, yet not following the path of sacred texts. Is their faith sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic? How may faith be judged?
Krishna’s gaze is deep, His voice calm yet filled with fire.
Arjuna, faith is born of the nature of each man. As is a man’s faith, so is he. Faith is of three kinds, according to the gunas — sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic.
The sattvic, pure in heart, worship the gods. The rajasic, driven by desire, worship spirits and beings of power. The tamasic, deluded and cruel, worship ghosts and the dead.
Men are shaped by their faith. What they worship, what they seek, what they believe — this becomes their nature. Therefore, let faith be guided by wisdom, not by ignorance.
Arjuna listens as Krishna continues, His words cutting like a sword and healing like nectar.
The food men eat is also of three kinds. Sattvic food, pure, nourishing, steady, promotes life, strength, clarity, health, and joy. Rajasic food is bitter, sour, salty, hot, burning — it excites passion, restlessness, and disease. Tamasic food is stale, tasteless, putrid, impure — it darkens the mind and destroys vitality.
Sacrifice too is of three kinds. The sattvic sacrifice is performed with devotion, without desire for reward, according to dharma. The rajasic sacrifice is performed for display, for recognition, for gain. The tamasic sacrifice is done without faith, without proper rites, without offering, without respect.
Austerity is also threefold. Sattvic austerity is practiced with purity, devotion, steadiness — discipline of body, speech, and mind, offered as worship. Rajasic austerity is practiced for pride, for display, for honor. Tamasic austerity is born of delusion, causing harm to oneself or to others.
Charity too is threefold. Sattvic charity is given at the right time, in the right place, to the worthy, without seeking reward. Rajasic charity is given reluctantly, for gain or recognition. Tamasic charity is given at the wrong time, in the wrong way, to the unworthy, with contempt.
Arjuna feels the clarity rise within him. Every action, every offering, every discipline, every gift — all is shaped by the guna behind it. Krishna’s voice becomes steady, unshakable.
Therefore, Arjuna, let all sacrifice, austerity, and charity be performed with the utterance of Om, Tat, Sat — the eternal syllables of truth. Om is the sound of the eternal. Tat means all is done as offering, not for selfish gain. Sat means truth, goodness, existence. By these, the righteous act, surrendering to the eternal.
Without faith, sacrifice is hollow. Without purity, austerity is vain. Without sincerity, charity is bondage. But when done with faith, in sattva, in surrender, in devotion to Me — every act purifies, every act liberates.
Arjuna bows low, his heart filled with gratitude. He sees that faith itself is not enough; it must be pure, guided by wisdom, rooted in surrender to Krishna.
Closing Reflection in Krishna’s Voice
O listener, know this truth. Faith shapes the soul. As you believe, so you become. If your faith is pure, your life is pure. If your faith is restless, your life is restless. If your faith is dark, your life is bound in shadow.
Therefore, purify your faith. Let your food be clean, your speech gentle, your thoughts clear, your actions selfless. Let your sacrifice be humble, your discipline steady, your charity compassionate. Let every act be guided by Om, Tat, Sat.
Above all, let your faith be devotion to Krishna. For such faith never fails. Such faith lifts the soul beyond birth and death.
This is Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga — the yoga of the threefold faith.
Soft Call to Action
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