Arjuna once asked Krishna, "What is the condition of those who, while possessing faith, disregard the injunctions of the scriptures and perform worship? Is their faith rooted in the mode of goodness, passion, or ignorance?" Krishna replied that the faith of all embodied beings is fundamentally shaped by their own nature, falling into one of three categories: goodness (*sattva*), passion (*rajas*), or ignorance (*tamas*). Every person is defined by their faith; as a person’s faith is, so, in essence, are they. Those in the mode of goodness worship the divine; those in the mode of passion worship powerful spirits and semi-celestial beings; and those in the mode of ignorance worship ghosts and the restless spirits of the dead. Krishna warned against the practice of severe austerities not sanctioned by scripture. Such practices, motivated by hypocrisy, ego, lust, and attachment, only serve to torment the body and the indwelling Spirit—acts that reflect a demonic nature. He then explained that the manifestations of these three modes extend to our food, our sacrifices, our austerities, and our charity. Regarding food, those in goodness prefer items that promote longevity, purity, strength, health, and joy—foods that are succulent, savory, and pleasing. Those driven by passion favor foods that are bitter, sour, salty, overly hot, pungent, or dry, which inevitably lead to pain, grief, and disease. Those in ignorance prefer food that is stale, tasteless, putrid, rotten, impure, or left over from a previous time. The nature of one’s sacrifice also follows this threefold division. The *sattvic* sacrifice is performed as a duty, according to scriptural rule, by those who seek no personal reward and focus their minds on the act itself. The *rajasic* sacrifice is performed with an eye toward some material fruit or out of a desire to show off. The *tamasic* sacrifice is performed contrary to scriptural guidance, without the distribution of food, lacking sacred mantras, lacking charitable gifts, and entirely devoid of true faith. Austerity is similarly classified. Bodily austerity involves the worship of the divine, the teacher, and the wise, alongside cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy, and non-violence. Austerity of speech involves speaking truthfully in a way that is pleasant and beneficial, and regularly reciting sacred texts. Mental austerity consists of serenity of thought, gentleness, silence, self-control, and the purification of one's inner being. When these three forms of austerity are practiced with supreme faith and without desire for reward, they are considered *sattvic*. If performed with hypocrisy, seeking honor or prestige, they are *rajasic*—transient and unstable. If practiced out of foolishness, resulting in self-torture or the intention to harm others, they are *tamasic*. Charity, too, reflects these divisions. Giving as a duty—to a worthy person in the right place and time, without expecting a return—is *sattvic*. Giving with the hope of receiving a favor or reward, or giving grudgingly, is *rajasic*. Giving at the wrong place and time to unworthy persons, without respect or with outright contempt, is *tamasic*. Krishna concluded by explaining the sacred designation of the Absolute: "Om Tat Sat." *Om* signifies the supreme reality; *Tat* is used to perform acts of sacrifice, austerity, and charity without the desire for fruits, focusing solely on liberation; and *Sat* is used to denote reality and auspiciousness. Therefore, any sacrifice, charity, or austerity is considered *Sat* when performed in a spirit of steadiness and goodness. Conversely, anything done without faith—whether it be a sacrifice, a gift, or an act of penance—is called *Asat*. It is, as Krishna reminded Arjuna, ultimately nothing, for it holds no value either in this life or in the hereafter.