|| 17.4 ||
यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः। प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः।।
yajante sāttvikā devān yakṣa-rakṣāṁsi rājasāḥ pretān bhūta-gaṇāṁś cānye yajante tāmasā janāḥ
Word by Word
yajante (worship) sāttvikāḥ (those in the mode of goodness) devān (the demigods) yakṣa-rakṣāṁsi (spirits and demons) rājasāḥ (those in the mode of passion) pretān (ghosts) bhūta-gaṇān (spirits) ca (and) anye (others) yajante (worship) tāmasāḥ (in the mode of ignorance) janāḥ (people).
Translation
Men in the mode of goodness worship the demigods; those in the mode of passion worship the demons; and those in the mode of ignorance worship ghosts and spirits.
Meaning
Kṛṣṇa explains that our object of worship reveals our internal mode. People in goodness worship the demigods (the keepers of cosmic order). People in passion worship powerful spirits or demons (entities that promise wealth or power). People in ignorance worship the dead, ghosts, and dark entities. You are attracted to what matches your own ‘vibe’.
This is a spiritual diagnostic tool. If you are attracted to ‘light’ and ‘order’, you are in Sattva. If you are attracted to ‘power’ and ‘control’, you are in Rajas. If you are attracted to ‘darkness’ and ‘chaos’, you are in Tamas. Your altar is a mirror of your heart. Most people don’t realize they are choosing their gods based on their own material conditioning.
It teaches us to be conscious of what we admire. If we want to move toward the Divine, we must stop worshipping power and ego. By shifting our focus toward Kṛṣṇa—who is beyond all these modes—we transcend the material hierarchy altogether. We should ensure that our devotion is directed toward the Source, not just toward temporary entities that reflect our own desires.