Verse 17.4 : Sraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga "Three Divisions of Faith"
Verse 4 of 28
“
The Translation
“Those in the mode of goodness (Sattvik) worship the demigods; those in the mode of passion (Rajasic) worship the spirits and demons; and others, in the mode of ignorance (Tamasic), worship ghosts and spirits of the dead.”
Commentary & Insights
Krishna illustrates how faith manifests in action by looking at the objects of worship in ancient India. In that context, different rituals were directed toward devas (deities), yakshas (power spirits), or pretas (ghosts), reflecting the worshiper's psychological state.
Practical Application
1
Observe what you worship or dedicate most of your time to (e.g., peace, power, distraction) and identify its quality.
Reflections & Notes
Saved to browser
Self-Reflection Prompts
- In modern secular terms, what do 'demigods' (ideals), 'demons' (greed/power), and 'ghosts' (past fears/darkness) represent as objects of human obsession?
- How does the object of your attention shape the quality of your mind?
Have you finished this lesson?
Mark this verse as studied to track your progress and see your learning journey on the dashboard.
17.4
यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः
Shankara comments that the objects of worship reflect the worshiper's mental frequency. Sattvik worship brings quietness; Rajasic worship brings activity and pride; Tamasic worship brings fear and delusion. True liberation lies beyond all three, in the worship of the supreme Brahman.