Arjuna says:
Krishna, what is the position of those who disregard the rules of scripture, but still worship with faith? Is it sattva, rajas or tamas?

Lord Krishna says:
The faith of embodied beings comes from their inherent nature, and is of three types sattvic, rajasic and tamasic. Now listen while I describe them.

O Arjuna, the faith of each person is in accordance with their nature. Whatever is the nature of that faith, that is what they become.

Those of sattvic faith make offerings to the gods. The rajasic type worship Yakṣas and Rākṣasas, and the others, who are tamasic in faith, worship ghosts and spirits.

Those who practise torturous self-discipline (tapas), not approved of by scripture, are filled with hypocrisy and egoism, compelled by desire and attachment.

These foolish people simply torture the elements of their material bodies. They also harm Me who dwells within their body. Such people are demonic by nature.

The food which is enjoyed by all is also of three types, as are sacrifices, austerity and charity. Listen to the distinctions between them.

Foods which are liked by sattvic people bring longevity, alertness, energy, health, pleasure and delight. Such foods are tasty, juicy, crisp, and pleasant.

Those dominated by rajas like foods which are bitter, sour, very salty, very hot, strong tasting, pungent and burning. Such foods produce pain, sorrow and disease.

Foods which are stale, tasteless, foul, putrid, left-over and impure, are loved by tamasic people.

The sattvic sacrifice is one that is performed in strict accordance with scripture, without any desire for reward and is motivated by a sense of duty.

But Arjuna, the sacrifice which is performed with an expectation of reward, and for the praise of others, is in the nature of rajas.

That sacrifice, which is not based on scriptural authority, which is without proper offerings or recitation of mantras, which does not have offerings to brahmanas or any sincere faith, is considered to be tamasic in nature.

Austerity of the body is about worship of the gods, brahmanas, teachers and enlightened beings. It involves being clean, honest, celibate and refraining from violence.

Austerity of speech means not causing distress to others, stating the truth, speaking lovingly and what is beneficial, and also reciting the Vedas.

Austerity of the mind means being peaceful, benevolent, silent and self-controlled, with pure thoughts.

When these three forms of austerity are practised with firm faith, and without any desire for reward, they are of the sattvic nature.

Austerity practised with vanity, for the sake of honour, praise and good reputation, is rajasic. Such practise is unstable and impermanent.

And the austerity practised with foolishness, which tortures oneself or inflicts harm to others is considered tamasic.

Charity that is done from a sense of duty, to a deserving person, without expectation, at the proper place and time, is said to be sattvic in nature.

But charity which is given with the expectation of receiving, in the hope of some future reward, or which is done grudgingly, is considered rajasic.

That gift which is given at the wrong place and wrong time, to an unworthy person, with neglect and without due respect, is considered tamasic.

From the very beginning, the three syllables ‘oṁ tat sat’ have personified Brahman. It was with this sacred mantra, that the brahmanas, the Vedas, and sacrifices, were established.

Therefore, in accordance with the Vedas, the saintly persons always chanted the syllable oṁ before all acts of worship, charity and austerity.

Without expecting the fruits of their action, those who seek liberation from rebirth chant the syllable ‘tat’, when they perform acts of sacrifice, austerity and charity.

Arjuna, the term ‘sat’ means existence and virtue and is also used to describe any righteous action.

Because of this, dedication to sacrifice, austerity and charity, is called ‘sat’; and also any action done for the sake of these is termed ‘sat’.

But Arjuna, whatever is offered without faith, be it sacrifice, austerity or charity, is called ‘asat’. It is worthless in this world and the next.