Arjuna inquired: O Krishna, what is the situation of those who disregard the principles of scripture but worship with faith? Is their faith in goodness, passion, or ignorance?

There are three types of faith, corresponding to the three modes of material nature—sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic. Now hear about them from Me.

O Arjuna, the faith of each person is in accordance with their nature. The individual is of faith; and whatever faith they have, they are verily that.

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

Those people who practice severe penances not enjoined by the scriptures, filled with hypocrisy, pride, and egoism, and driven by desire and attachment, they torture the elements constituting their body.

Those who torture the aggregate of elements in the body and who are devoid of wisdom, and who disregard Me as present within themselves—know them to be of demonic tendencies.

Even the food that is dear to all is of three kinds, as are sacrifice, austerity, and charity. Hear about the distinctions between them.

Foods that increase life, purity, strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction; which are juicy, fatty, substantial, and pleasing to the heart, are dear to those in the mode of goodness.

Foods that are bitter, sour, salty, excessively hot, pungent, dry, and burning are dear to those in the mode of passion, causing distress, misery, and disease.

Food that is left overnight, food that is tasteless, putrid, stale, and impure, is dear to those in the mode of ignorance.

The sacrifice performed with the expectation of reward, according to the injunctions of scripture, with the mind steadfastly fixed on "This must be done"—such a sacrifice is sattvic.

But the sacrifice which is performed for the sake of ostentation, or with a view to gain respect, honor, or reverence, O Arjuna, know that to be Rajasic, an impure action.

That sacrifice which is without following the scriptural injunctions, without the distribution of prasada (food offered to the deity), without chanting of Vedic hymns, without giving of dakshina (charity), and performed without faith—is considered to be in the mode of ignorance.

Worship of the gods, the twice-born, the teachers, and the wise; purity, honesty, celibacy, and non-violence—these are said to be the austerity of the body.

Austerity of speech consists of speech that causes no distress, is truthful, pleasant, and beneficial, as well as the regular recitation of scriptures.

Tranquility, kindness, silence, self-restraint, purity of thought—these are termed as austerity of the mind.

The penance which is practiced with the highest faith by men of a refined intellect and which is free from the desire for rewards, is said to be of the nature of goodness.

The penance performed out of ostentation and hypocrisy, for the sake of receiving honor, respect, and worship, is said to be of the nature of passion, unstable and temporary.

That austerity is said to be in the mode of ignorance which is performed with foolish obstinacy, self-torture, or for the harm of others.

That gift which is given with the feeling that it is a duty to give, to a worthy recipient, at the right place and time, and without expecting anything in return, is considered to be in the mode of goodness.

But that gift which is given with the expectation of something in return, or with a desire for the fruit thereof, or again, given reluctantly, is considered to be in the mode of passion.

When charity is given at an inappropriate time and place, to unworthy recipients, without respect and with contempt, it is considered to be in the mode of ignorance.

From the beginning of creation, the three syllables—om, tat, and sad—have been uttered to indicate the Supreme Absolute Truth (Brahman). They were uttered by brahmanas while chanting the Vedas and performing sacrifices.

Therefore, the acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity should always be performed by chanting the divine syllable 'Om,' according to the prescriptions of scripture, by those who are devoted to Brahman.

Without being attached to the fruits, various acts of sacrifice, austerity, and charity are performed by seekers of liberation.

The word "Sat" (truth) is used in the sense of reality and goodness; and, O Arjuna, the word "Sat" is also used in the sense of an auspicious action.

The state of steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity, and charity is called goodness. And action for the sake of the Supreme Lord is declared to be in the mode of goodness.

Whatever is offered as sacrifice, gift, or penance without faith is called asat, O Arjuna; it is not beneficial either here or hereafter.