This chapter begins with a question asked by Arjuna.

Ye shastra-vidhim utsrijya yajante shraddhayanvitah |
Tesham nishtha tu ka Krishna sattvam aho rajastamah || (1)

Meaning:

Arjuna said: O Krishna! Those who abandon the injunctions of the scriptures and worship with full faith—what is the nature of their faith? Is it sattvic, rajasic, tamasic, or of some other kind?
O Lord, those who, knowing the scriptural rules—or even knowing them yet neglecting them—perform sacrifices and other auspicious acts driven only by faith, what is the state of their mind? In such circumstances, to which category do these acts belong—sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic?

To remove Arjuna’s curiosity, Lord Krishna explains that just as every being possesses three qualities—sattva, rajas, and tamas—so too faith among living beings is of three kinds. The purity and quality of faith are judged according to the yogi’s intention, attitude, and objective.

Trividha bhavati shraddha dehinam sa svabhavaja |
Sattviki rajasi chaiva tamasi cheti tam shrinu || (2)

Meaning:

The Blessed Lord said: The faith of embodied beings, born of their own nature, is of three kinds—sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic. Hear about this from Me.

Along with faith, the Lord also discusses ahara—food. Food too is of three kinds: sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic.
A pure yogi prefers fresh, juicy, nourishing, and vegetarian food—food that increases strength and intellect, enhances happiness and harmony, and keeps the mind pure and calm. Such food is called sattvic food.
A rajasic yogi is inclined toward hot, spicy, and strongly flavored food. For such a person, the taste of the tongue is more important than nourishment.
A tamasic yogi often prefers tasteless, stale, or meat-based food. Such food produces lethargy in the body and sometimes even illness. Yet a tamasic person is not disturbed by laziness or sickness; instead, they accept it as a way of life and remain absorbed in it.

Thereafter, Lord Krishna explains the three types of faith in detail.

Sattvic Faith

Sattvic faith is the state in which a yogi performs yajna, worship, and rituals according to scriptural injunctions with pure intent. Worship performed for the realization of God or for the welfare of society is called sattvic faith.
In such worship, learned and wise people are respectfully invited and honored. After the rituals, they are served food and given appropriate donations, and blessings are received. Such worship and faith are considered sattvic.
Even if every rule of scripture is not perfectly followed, the result remains sattvic. This faith leads the yogi toward God-realization. Such yogis do not desire the fruits of their actions; they act selflessly, and therefore they surely receive auspicious results.

Shraddhaya paraya taptam tapas tat trividham naraih |
Aphalakankshibhir yuktaih sattvikam parichakshate || (17)

Meaning:

Austerity performed with supreme faith by those who desire no reward and are devoted to discipline is called sattvic austerity.

Rajasic Faith

A yogi with rajasic faith is highly self-centered. Such a person performs worship for specific personal gains. Often, there is an element of show in their actions.
They perform rituals to demonstrate to family and society how great a devotee they are. If they donate to a temple or institution, they want a large plaque displaying their name so that people continuously praise them. Their aim is to earn worldly admiration. Purity of heart is less, while desire for material pleasures is greater.

Yattu pratyupakarartham phalam uddishya va punah |
Diyate cha pariklishtam tad danam rajasam smritam || (21)

Meaning:
That charity which is given with the expectation of something in return, or with a desire for reward, and given reluctantly, is considered rajasic charity.

Tamasic Faith

Austerities and sacrifices performed stubbornly, with ignorance, impure thoughts, and impure speech are called tamasic faith. The main intention here is to wish harm to others or pray for their suffering.
Such tamasic yogis even perform charity with a feeling of contempt. For example, if a poor and unclean sadhu comes asking for food, the tamasic person may feed him but will not allow him to come close. The sadhu is seated far away, and food is sent through a servant. Their hearts are filled with disgust and disdain.
They may go to a temple and pray that someone’s business should fail or that another person should suffer severe physical pain. If such misfortune actually occurs, these tamasic individuals feel pleasure. Such faith is called tamasic faith.

Adeshakale yaddanam apatrebhyashcha diyate |
Asatkritam avajnatam tat tamasam udahritam || (22)

Meaning:

Charity given at an improper place, at an improper time, to unworthy persons, and without respect or with contempt is called tamasic charity.

A beautiful example of tamasic faith is found in the Ramayana. During the war between Rama and Ravana, when Ravana is rendered unconscious by Lakshmana’s arrow and falls in his chariot, his charioteer brings him safely to the palace. After regaining consciousness, Ravana begins to think of a way to win the war. He conceives of a yajna that could grant him immortality. He immediately begins preparations for this sacrifice, driven by the intention of destruction of others. This yajna was inspired by tamasic faith.
Vibhishana learns of Ravana’s plan and informs Lord Rama. Rama sends Angada and other warriors, who destroy this tamasic yajna:

“The auspicious monkeys destroyed the ritual and returned safely to Lord Rama.
The demon, enraged, marched forth, having abandoned all hope of life.”

After explaining all three types of faith, Lord Krishna clearly tells Arjuna that among them, sattvic faith is the highest. A pure yogi should strive only for this. Worship should be performed with Vedic mantras, austerities with the sound of Om, remembrance and kirtan of the Lord, and proper respect for elders and gurus.
One should always follow the righteous path, serve the poor and distressed selflessly, and honor deserving recipients through charity. There should be no show or pretence in daily life. Every action should be performed without attachment to results and offered to the Lord. Such simple, pure-hearted devotees are extremely dear to Him.

May this Shraddha Traya Yoga make all our lives sattvic and pure. May we always seek purity of heart and the grace of the Lord’s feet, and dedicate our lives naturally and selflessly to the service of society.
For this divine knowledge of the Lord, we offer our countless salutations.

“Jai Shri Krishna.”