Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 Verse 4
भगवद् गीता अध्याय 17 श्लोक 4

यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः।
प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः।।17.4।।



English Translation - Swami Gambirananda
17.4 Those having the sattva ality worship the gods; those having rajas, the demi-gods and ogres; and other people possessed of tamas worship ghosts and the hosts of spirits.


English Translation - Swami Sivananda
17.4 The Sattvic or the pure men worship the gods; the Rajasic or the passionate worship the Yakshas and the Rakshasas; the others (the Tamasic or the deluded people) worship the ghosts and the hosts of the nature-spirits.


English Translation - Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
17.4. The men of the Sattva (Strand) perform sacrifice intending for the gods ;  the men of the Rajas (Strand) do for the spirits and the demons;  and the men of the Tamas (Strand)  perform sacrifices intending for the imps, the dead, and the ghosts.


Transliteration Bhagavad Gita 17.4Yajante saattwikaa devaan yaksharakshaamsi raajasaah;
Pretaan bhootaganaamshchaanye yajante taamasaa janaah.


Word Meanings Bhagavad Gita 17.4yajante—worship; sāttvikāḥ—those in the mode of goodness; devān—celestial gods; yakṣha—semi-celestial beings who exude power and wealth; rakṣhānsi—powerful beings who embody sensual enjoyment, revenge, and wrath; rājasāḥ—those in the mode of passion; pretān-bhūta-gaṇān—ghosts and spirits; cha—and; anye—others; yajante—worship; tāmasāḥ—those in the mode of ignorance; janāḥ—persons