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.
In simple words
Krishna connects faith to what people worship: "People of pure nature worship the divine. People of passionate nature worship powerful spirits and beings. People of dull, dark nature worship ghosts and shadowy forces."
Word-by-word meanings
यजन्तेworshipसात्त्विकाःthe Sattvic or pure menदेवान्the godsयक्षरक्षांसिthe Yakshas and the Rakshasasराजसाःthe Rajasic or the passionateप्रेतान्ghostsभूतगणान्the hosts of Bhutas or the naturespiritsचandअन्येthe othersयजन्तेworshipतामसाःthe Tamasicजनाःpeople
17.4 यजन्ते worship? सात्त्विकाः the Sattvic or pure men? देवान् the gods? यक्षरक्षांसि the Yakshas and the Rakshasas? राजसाः the Rajasic or the passionate? प्रेतान् ghosts? भूतगणान् the hosts of Bhutas or the naturespirits? च and? अन्ये the others? यजन्ते worship? तामसाः the Tamasic? जनाः people.Commentary Lord Krishna? after defining faith? tells Arjuna how this faith determines the object of worship. The nature of the faith (whether it is Sattvic? Rajasic or Tamasic) has to be inferred from its characteristic effects? viz.? the worship of the gods and the like. Each man selects his object of worship according to the ruling Guna of his being. The expression of a mans faith depends on the Guna that is predominant in him. A Sattvic man will give his faith the Sattvic expression? a Rajasic man the Rajasic expression and a Tamasic man the Tamasic expression.Sattvic persons or people with Sattvic faith who are devoted to the worship of the gods? are rare in this world.Yakshas are the brothers of Kubera? the lord of wealth gnomes? the spirits that guard wealth.Rakshasas Beings of strength and power such as Nairrita demons giants gifted with illusive powers.Bhutas Ghosts.
Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.
This interpretation draws on a specific tradition and may not represent the view of any single school. For authoritative guidance within a specific tradition, seek a qualified teacher.
Modern
# BG 17.4 — The Nature of Worship According to One's Inner Nature
Every person in life dedicates their complete devotion to some ideal or object of worship. Thereafter, through invoking that ideal, they seek the fulfillment of their desires. In the language of scripture, this is called worship. By this word, one should not understand merely the sixteen-fold ritualistic worship prescribed in the scriptures. According to the definition given above, every person worships someone or something—their object of worship may be wealth, fame, glory, a deity, or anything else. Each person's object of worship is determined by their faith and conviction, which is described here.
Those of sattvic nature, by virtue of their noble and divine inclinations, naturally worship the deities—that is, divine and elevated ideals. Those dominated by rajasic qualities are extremely ambitious and action-oriented by nature. Therefore, they worship yakshas and rakshasas. The point is that the choice of one's object of worship depends upon the silent yearning of the devotee's heart. No one would go to a library to purchase clothing. Similarly, those of rajasic nature find action-oriented ideals appealing.
Those of tamasic nature worship ghosts and spirits to fulfill their base and sensual desires. In the world too, it is observed that people steeped in false education and immorality seek the assistance of base, vengeful, and unethical persons (ghosts and spirits) to accomplish their wicked and harmful ambitions. These base people, though alive in body, are dead to the sweetness and beauty of life.
This very idea has been expressed in many verses before. Most people are intensely curious about ghosts and spirits. Whether spirits truly exist is a question in everyone's mind. However, for the purpose of studying this present section of the Gita, reflection on this matter is unnecessary. It is sufficient to know that through ghosts and spirits, certain particular forces are indicated, which may also be available in this material world.
Those of pure heart—the sattvic seek help from compassionate friends, the rajasic (ambitious) seek protection from the wealthy and capable, and the tamasic (negligent) seek power from criminals—and thus they worship the appropriate deities, yakshas, and spirits respectively. From a person's field of action, one can understand their faith to some extent.
Persons of sattvic nature are rare in society. Generally, the number of rajasic and tamasic people is greater, and their efforts at worship are also flawed. How the Lord explains this—