Logos 476
The branches of faith, the perfection of the act, and the most secret of knowledge.
The gunas or modes of influence of material nature: virtue, passion, ignorance, condition the incarnate being.
As for those who do not follow the principles of the scriptures, but devote themselves to a cult of their own invention, what is their condition, O Krishna?
Is it that of virtue, passion or ignorance?
To these questions put by Prince Arjuna, the Blessed Lord said:
According to the nature of the material influences [gunas] received by the incarnate being, his faith may belong to three orders: virtue, passion or ignorance. Hear My word on this.
According to which guna marks his existence, the being develops a particular faith. He is said to have such and such faith, according to whether he is bathed in one or the other
Men ruled by virtue worship the devas [celestial beings], those ruled by passion worship demonic beings, and those enveloped by ignorance live in the worship of ghosts and other spirits.
Men who impose upon themselves severe austerities, but not in accordance with the scriptures [the Vedas, the original holy scriptures], indulging in them out of pride, egotism, concupiscence and attachment, driven by passion, and who thus torture their bodies, without understanding, in their unconsciousness, that they are also torturing Me, the Supreme Soul within them, these, know that, are asuras [demonic beings, ungodly, evil, atheists, outlaws].
The foods corresponding to each of these three orders.
The foods dear to each one are also divided into three orders, which correspond to the three gunas. Likewise for sacrifice, austerity, charity. Listen, and I will teach you what distinguishes them.
The foods of virtue purify existence and prolong its duration; they give strength, health, joy and satisfaction. These substantial foods are sweet, juicy, fatty and full of flavor.
Foods that are too bitter, sour, salty, pungent, dry or hot are loved by those who are dominated by passion. They cause suffering, unhappiness and disease.
And dear to men who are enveloped by ignorance, foods cooked more than three hours before being eaten, foods that are tasteless, lacking in freshness, foul-smelling, decomposed or unclean, even leftovers.