228
THE BHAGAVAD-GITA.
embodied—pure, passionate, and dark. Hear thou of these. (2)
सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत ।
श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः ॥ ३ ॥
The faith of each is shaped to his own nature, O Bhârata. The man consists of his faith[1]; that which his faith is, he is even that. (3)
यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः ।
प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः ॥ ४ ॥
Pure men worship the Gods; the passionate the gnomes and giants[2]; the others, the dark folk, worship ghosts and troops of nature-spirits[3]. (4)
- ↑ That is, the man's faith shows what is the man's character.
- ↑ Yakshas, gnomes, are the servants of the Lord of Wealth, i. e., are connected with metals; Râkshasas, giants, or Titans, are the gigantic inhabitants of Atlantis versed in magic and sorcery.
- ↑ Pretas, ghosts, are departed men; while Bhûtas, nature-spirits, are of a somewhat goblin-like type.
