Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17, Verse 4

Chapter 17 – Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः ।
प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः ॥

Transliteration

yajante sāttvikā devānyakṣarakṣāṃsi rājasāḥ .
pretānbhūtagaṇāṃścānye yajante tāmasā janāḥ ॥

Meaning

Sattvic people worship the gods; rajasic people worship the yakshas and rakshasas; and the others, the tamasic, worship ghosts and hosts of spirits.

Word meanings

यजन्ते – worship
सात्त्विकाः – sattvic people
देवान् – the gods
यक्षरक्षांसि – yakshas and rakshasas
राजसाः – rajasic people
प्रेतान् – ghosts, spirits of the dead
भूतगणान् – hosts of nature-spirits
च – and
अन्ये – others
यजन्ते – worship
तामसाः – tamasic
जनाः – people

Anvaya (word order)

सात्त्विकाः देवान् यजन्ते, राजसाः यक्षरक्षांसि (यजन्ते), अन्ये तामसाः जनाः प्रेतान् भूतगणान् च यजन्ते ।

Explanation

The previous verse said that a person is as his faith is. Krishna now offers a practical test: the kind of faith a person has can be known from what he worships. What we worship mirrors our inner aspirations.

'Sattvic people worship the gods.' The devas represent light, knowledge, order and well-being. A sattvic person is drawn to them because he himself seeks these qualities. His worship is marked by peace, purity and concern for the good of others.

'Rajasic people worship yakshas and rakshasas.' Yakshas are regarded as guardians of wealth and treasure (as Kubera is), and rakshasas as embodiments of might. A rajasic person desires wealth, power and influence, so he is drawn to the powers that can grant them.

'The tamasic worship ghosts and hosts of spirits.' This is worship tied to fear, superstition and the wish to harm others. The tamasic person, out of ignorance and fear, pursues such powers.

The verse has a wider meaning too. We may not worship yakshas or ghosts today, but everyone 'worships' something: some worship knowledge and service, some wealth and fame, some fear and superstition. Our 'worship' shows itself in our priorities.

Context

The previous verse said that a person is made of faith; this verse gives a test for recognising the three kinds of faith by their objects of worship. The next two verses describe those who practise terrible austerities contrary to scripture.

Life lesson

Whatever we worship, whether a deity or a goal in life, mirrors our nature. Look at your priorities to see what you are really worshipping.

Key terms

Deva: Divine beings of light, knowledge and well-being
Yaksha-rakshasa: Powers associated with wealth and might
Preta-bhutagana: Spirits of the dead and lower subtle beings