यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसा: ।
प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जना: ॥ ४ ॥
yajante sāttvikā devān yakṣha-rakṣhānsi rājasāḥ
pretān bhūta-gaṇānśh chānye yajante tāmasā janāḥ
श्लोक ४: जिनकी प्रकृति सात्विक होती है, यानि कि पवित्र होती है, वे देवताओं की पूजा करते हैं। राजसिक प्रकृति के मनुष्य, जिनको सक्रियता और अभिलाषा से जाना जाता है, वे राक्षसों की पूजा करते हैं। अज्ञान के अंधकार से प्रभावित मनुष्य की प्रकृति तामसिक होती है और वे भूत तथा प्रेतात्माओं की पूजा करते हैं
Shloka 4: Those whose nature is Sattvik, characterised by purity, worship the celestial Gods (devatas). Those of Rajasik nature, marked by activity and passion, worship demons. Those of Tamasik nature, associated with darkness, worship ghosts and spirits.
In this verse, Sri Krishna draws our attention to an oft-overlooked truth of spiritual life: the way we worship is a mirror held up to our inner nature. He describes three principal types of faith and worship, each aligned with a specific mode—goodness (sattva), passion (rajas), and ignorance (tamas). This division is not merely academic; it reflects the living, breathing diversity of religious practices shaped by one’s disposition and motivations.
Those immersed in the mode of goodness find themselves naturally drawn to worship devas—the celestial gods who embody harmony, virtue, and the orderly forces of the cosmos. These worshippers seek light, purity, and higher truths, and their rituals tend to be disciplined and uplifting. The devas they revere, such as Indra or Surya, represent ideals the worshippers themselves aspire to cultivate, creating a cycle where inner virtue and outer reverence reinforce each other. The act of worship thus becomes a process of self-refinement, aligning the heart with qualities of truth, compassion, and clarity.
In contrast, those dominated by the mode of passion are attracted to powerful entities such as yakṣas and rakṣasas. Yakṣas, connected with wealth and material bounty, and rakṣasas, known for their formidable strength and dominance, become the objects of veneration for people whose faith is transactional and restless. The worship here is not for inner growth, but for tangible rewards—success, influence, or personal power. Such practices might be intense and even flamboyant but often lack lasting fulfillment, as the underlying motive remains rooted in desire and ambition rather than selflessness or wisdom.
Then there are those under the sway of ignorance, characterized by confusion, fear, or superstition. Their acts of worship are directed toward ghosts, spirits, and other unseen entities. These rituals may involve secretive or dark practices, motivated less by understanding and more by anxiety, insecurity, or blind tradition. The faith here is murky—sometimes even bordering on the occult—and often lacks discernment or guidance. Rather than uplifting the soul, this kind of worship can entrench one further in negativity and misunderstanding, binding them to lower vibrations of existence.
This profound observation by Krishna is not a value judgment on individuals, but a description of how deeply our beliefs and rituals reflect our present state of consciousness. Every person harbors faith, but what animates that faith—what we choose to worship—reveals what is brewing in our inner world. The devas, yakṣas, rakṣasas, and spirits become symbols of the qualities, desires, and fears that dominate our minds and hearts at any given moment.
It’s important to appreciate that Krishna’s exposition goes beyond merely categorizing religious expressions. He points out that although all worship seems earnest on the surface, not all of it leads equally toward spiritual elevation. Some forms of worship purify and liberate, while others keep the soul entangled in cycles of craving or delusion. The key difference is whether one’s faith is guided by scriptural wisdom and higher understanding, or merely by instinct, tradition, or fear.
In essence, the verse serves as both a philosophical insight and an invitation to look within. It reminds us that the objects of our reverence are not chosen at random; they spring from our deepest inclinations and qualities. Over time, as awareness grows and association with saints or study of sacred texts occurs, faith can be refined—moving from confused or self-centered worship to devotion that uplifts, heals, and connects with the Supreme Reality. Ultimately, the journey of faith is dynamic: what we worship today may change as our consciousness evolves, and with that shift, so too does the path to freedom and fulfillment.
This verse thus stands as a gentle, insightful reminder that spiritual growth is less about external ritual and more about inner transformation. The true purpose of worship is not just to propitiate unseen powers, but to harmonize our inner nature with the divine order, leading us—step by step—toward lasting peace and liberation.
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