In Bhagavad Gita 17.4, Krishna says sattvic people worship the gods, rajasic people worship yakshas and rakshasas, and tamasic people worship ghosts and spirits.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्
यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः
प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये
यजन्ते तामसा जनाः ॥ १७-४ ॥
yajante sāttvikā devān
yakṣarakṣāṃsi rājasāḥ
pretānbhūtagaṇāṃścānye
yajante tāmasā janāḥ
English transliteration yajante saattvikaa devaan
yaksharakshaamsi raajasaah
pretaanbhootaganaamshchaanye
yajante taamasaa janaah ॥ 17.4 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Sattvic people worship the gods; rajasic people worship yakshas and rakshasas; and others, the tamasic, worship ghosts and hosts of spirits.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यजन्ते yajante | worship |
| सात्त्विकाः sāttvikāḥ | sattvic people |
| देवान् devān | the gods |
| यक्षरक्षांसि yakṣarakṣāṃsi | yakṣas and rākṣasas yakṣa (yakṣas) + rakṣāṃsi (rākṣasas) |
| राजसाः rājasāḥ | rajasic people |
| प्रेतान् pretān | ghosts |
| भूतगणान् bhūtagaṇān | hosts of spirits bhūta (spirits) + gaṇān (hosts) |
| च ca | and |
| अन्ये anye | others |
| यजन्ते yajante | worship |
| तामसाः tāmasāḥ | tamasic |
| जनाः janāḥ | people |
Word-wise Chanting
- ya–jan–te sāt–tvi–kā de–vān– 8 syllables ya-jan-te saat-tvi-kaa de-vaan-
- ya–kṣa–ra–kṣāṃ–si rā–ja–sāḥ | 8 syllables ya-ksha-ra-kshaam-si raa-ja-saah
- pre–tān–bhū–ta–ga–ṇāṃś–cān–ye 8 syllables pre-taan-bhoo-ta-ga-naamsh-chaan-ye
- ya–jan–te tā–ma–sā ja–nāḥ || 17-4 8 syllables ya-jan-te taa-ma-saa ja-naah
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 17 Verse 4
Context
Krishna shows how faith shows itself in worship (17.2–17.4).
Meaning
The object of worship reveals the quality of faith. Sattvic people worship the devas, beings of light and order. Rajasic people turn to yakṣas and rākṣasas, powers associated with wealth and might. Tamasic people turn to pretas and bhūtas, spirits of the dead and dark forces.
In modern terms, sattvic faith seeks light and goodness, rajasic faith seeks power and wealth, and tamasic faith is drawn to fear and darkness.
In Practice
Notice what you seek most in your prayers: goodness, power or protection from fear.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 17: Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga (The Threefold Nature of Faith). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.