Srimad Bhagavad-Gita : Chapter-17, Sraddha-traya-vibhaga-yogam : Slokam-4.

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Sunday, August 29, 2021. 7:13. PM.
Srimad Bhagavad-Gita
Chapter-17. Sraddha-traya-vibhaga-yogam : 
Slokam-4.
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Slokam - 4.

"Yajante  sattvika  devan  yaksharakshamsi  rajasah,

pretan  bhuta-ganamscanye  yajante  tamasa  janah."

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Translation :

sattvika  janah  =  those  who  are  of  satvic  guna  ( good  character );

devan  yajante   =  worship  Devas  ( demi-gods );

rajasah  =  those  who  are  of  the  rajasi  guna  (  a  character  of  passions,  look  for  gains, etc );

yaksha  rakshamsi  yajante  =  worship  yaksha-s  and  rakshasa-s  (  demons  );

anye    tamasa  janah  = and  others  the  tamasic  guna  holders ( lazy, inert,  ignorant  );

pretan  bhuta-ganan  ca  yajante   =  worship  dead  spirits  and  ghosts.

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Tatvam of the Slokam :

Slokam-4. Men in the mode of goodness worship the demigods; those in the mode of passion worship the demons; and those in the mode of ignorance worship ghosts and spirits. 

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Commentary :

Those who are imbued with sattva guna the mode of goodness become attracted to activities in purity and goodness and they are devoted to worshipping the Supreme Lord with full faith, concerned only with the transcendental bliss derived from bhakti or exclusive loving devotion unto the Supreme Lord Krishna which is completely transcendental to material existence and untainted by darkness and suffering. 

Those in raja guna or mode of passion offer diabolical rituals to demoniac entities from the physical and astral realms to gain pleasure, power, wealth and fame. 

The results are bitter sweet when succeeding and bitterly painful when failing because one has to give something physical in return such as the death of a family member or one's health. 

Those in tama guna or mode of ignorance pay homage to the ghosts and spirits which give no joy and is filled with pain and anguish. 

The results of these three gunas or modes of material nature are determined directly by whichever one is situated in along with the quality of the faith in which the worshipper is performing even if it is in accordance with the Vedic scriptures. 

Lord Krishna has categorically emphasised and declared that not even the most miniscule modicum of happiness is derived from any activity which is contrary and opposed to the Vedic scriptures; which embody all that is for the highest good for all. 

Those who are inimical to the Vedic scriptures which benefit all creation are evil and possess a demoniac nature.

Lord Krishna is stating that the position and status of all jivas or embodied beings and their category can be determined by understanding their sraddha or faith. 

The three kinds of sraddha can be observed and specifically categorised from indicatory signs in the form of their mode of worship, whom they worship, whether or not the worship is abstract or finites, etc. 

Those endowed with a preponderance of sattva guna or mode of goodness worship the Supreme Lord and their faith is saturated with goodness. 

Those possessed with a preponderance of raja guna or mode of passion pay homage to demoniac entities for power and dominion and their faith is saturated with passion. 

Those possessed with a preponderance of tama guna or the mode of ignorance pray to ghosts and spirits and their faith is saturated with ignorance.

The three fold nature of sraddha or faith can be determined by a jivas or embodied beings mode of worship. 

Those situated in sattva guna the mode of goodness worship the Supreme Lord Krishna and His authorised incarnations. 

Those situated in raja guna the mode of passion pay homage to demoniac entities for power, wealth, fame and pleasure. 

Those situated in tama guna the mode of ignorance pray to abstract gods with vague qualities as well as to ghosts and spirits. 

Thus by their actions their position and quality of faith can be clearly discerned.

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Conclusion :

Those in the mode of goodness worship the celestial gods; those in the mode of passion worship the yakṣhas and rākṣhasas; those in the mode of ignorance worship ghosts and spirits.

It is said that the good are drawn to the good and the bad to the bad. Those in tamo guṇa are drawn toward ghosts and spirits, despite the evil and cruel nature of such beings. Those who are rājasic get drawn to the yakṣhas (semi-celestial beings who exude power and wealth) and rākṣhasas (powerful beings who embody sensual enjoyment, revenge, and wrath). They even offer the blood of animals to appease these lower beings, with faith in the propriety of such lowly worship. Those who are imbued with sattva guṇa become attracted to the worship of celestial gods in whom they perceive the qualities of goodness. However, worship is perfectly directed when it is offered to God.

To be continued  ....

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