Commentary

Commentary

Having established that faith is of three kinds, Krishna now gives the first practical application: the object of worship reveals the quality of one’s faith. This is a profound diagnostic tool — you can tell where a person stands spiritually by observing whom or what they worship.

Those in sattva worship the devas — the divine beings such as Brahma, Shiva, Indra, Chandra, Surya, and other celestial administrators of the universe. According to the scriptural direction, only the Supreme Lord is worthy of worship, but those in goodness generally worship the devas with proper Vedic procedures. Sattvic people are attracted to a specific deity according to their particular nature and worship accordingly.

Those in rajas worship yakshas and rakshasas. During the Second World War, a man in Kolkata worshipped Hitler as a deity, hoping to acquire wealth through the chaos of war. Similarly, rajasic people create gods of powerful beings and worship them for material gain. They are drawn to displays of power and dominion.

Those in tamas worship ghosts, spirits, and the dead. In remote parts of India, people sometimes worship trees where spirits are believed to dwell, or make offerings at the graves of the deceased. Such worship, directed at lower entities operating in darkness, reflects a consciousness mired in ignorance.

This verse makes clear that rajasic and tamasic people, though they may worship sincerely, direct their faith toward objects that cannot elevate them. Only sattvic worship, properly directed, leads toward spiritual purification. And beyond all three modes, the Gita ultimately recommends worship of the Supreme Lord alone.