Krishna spoke to Arjuna with great compassion, revealing the consequences for those of demonic nature. He explained that such deluded souls, failing to reach Him, enter wombs befitting their darkness, and are born again and again into lower births, ultimately descending to the most miserable states. Krishna then warned Arjuna of the three gates that lead to hell and destroy the self: desire, anger, and greed. He urged that all should abandon this triple path, for those who are freed from these gates of darkness act for their own welfare and attain the highest path. He further cautioned that anyone who, disregarding the guidance of scripture, acts merely according to personal whims, does not attain perfection, happiness, or the supreme goal. Therefore, Krishna declared, scripture alone must be the authority for determining what should and should not be done. With knowledge of scriptural injunctions, one ought to act in this world. Hearing this, Arjuna asked, “O Krishna, what of those endowed with faith who perform worship, yet disregard scriptural injunctions? Are they governed by sattva, rajas, or tamas?” Krishna replied that faith arises from the very nature of embodied beings and is of three kinds: sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic. The faith of every person conforms to their nature; as is one’s faith, so indeed is one. Krishna explained that those of sattvic nature worship the gods, those of rajasic temperament worship yakshas and rakshasas, while the tamasic are drawn to spirits and hosts of ghosts. There are also those who, ignoring scriptural rules, perform severe austerities out of hypocrisy and ego, driven by desire and attachment. Such people torment both their own bodies and Krishna Himself, who dwells within. Krishna revealed that these are truly of demonic resolve. He then described how even food, sacrifice, austerity, and charity are of three kinds. Foods that nourish life, purity, strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction—those that are savory, unctuous, firm, and pleasing—are dear to the sattvic. Foods that are bitter, sour, salty, excessively hot, pungent, dry, and burning are preferred by the rajasic, but bring pain, grief, and disease. Stale, tasteless, putrid, decomposed, leftover, and impure food is dear to the tamasic. Sacrifice, too, has its distinctions. Sacrifice performed according to scriptural ordinance, without seeking reward and with a firm sense of duty, is sattvic. Sacrifice performed for reward or out of show is rajasic, while that which is contrary to ordinance, lacking proper offerings, mantras, and faith, is tamasic. Krishna then spoke of the threefold austerity: bodily, verbal, and mental. Bodily austerity consists of worship of the gods, the twice-born, teachers, and the wise, along with purity, straightforwardness, celibacy, and nonviolence. Austerity of speech is that which does not agitate, is truthful, pleasant, beneficial, and includes regular study and recitation. Mental austerity is serenity, gentleness, silence, self-control, and purity of disposition. When these are practiced with supreme faith, without desire for reward, they are sattvic. When done for respect, honor, or worship, and with hypocrisy, they are rajasic and unstable. If done with delusion, causing suffering to oneself or others, they are tamasic. Charity, too, is of three kinds. That gift which is given simply because it should be given, at the proper time and place, to a worthy person without expectation of return, is pure and sattvic. Gifts given with expectation, or reluctantly, are rajasic. Those given at improper times, to unworthy recipients, without respect or with contempt, are tamasic. Krishna then spoke of the sacred syllables: “Om Tat Sat.” This threefold designation of Brahman sanctified the Brahmins, the Vedas, and sacrifices from ancient times. Therefore, those who know Brahman begin acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity, as prescribed, with the utterance of “Om.” With “Tat,” acts are performed without seeking reward, by those desiring liberation. “Sat” signifies reality and goodness, and is applied to praiseworthy action, steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity, and charity. Actions done for these purposes are also called “Sat.” But whatever is offered, given, or performed without faith is called “asat”—it is neither fruitful here nor hereafter. At this point, Arjuna, seeking deeper understanding, asked Krishna about the truth of renunciation and abandonment, and how they differ. Krishna explained that the wise see renunciation as giving up actions performed with desire, while abandonment is relinquishing the fruits of all actions. Some say all action should be abandoned as evil, while others insist that sacrifice, charity, and austerity should never be given up. Krishna then gave his final judgment. Abandonment, he said, is of three kinds. Acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity are not to be abandoned, for they purify even the wise. However, these actions must be performed without attachment or desire for results—this is Krishna’s firm and best teaching. Renouncing prescribed action is not proper; abandoning such duty out of delusion leads only to darkness. Thus, Krishna lovingly guided Arjuna to discern the true path of action, faith, and renunciation.