The Yoga of the Threefold Faith

Krishna introduces the next section of Chapter 17: food (āhāra), sacrifice (yajña), austerity (tapas), and charity (dāna) are all 'trividhaḥ'—three kinds—according to the gunas. 'Āhāras tv api sarvasya trividho bhavati priyaḥ'—the food that is dear to everyone is also of three kinds. This means your food preferences reflect your nature—sattvic people prefer sattvic food, rajasic people prefer rajasic food, tamasic people prefer tamasic food. The same applies to sacrifice, austerity, and charity. Krishna will explain 'teṣāṁ vibhāgaṁ'—their classification—in the following verses. This verse sets up the detailed exploration of how gunas influence all aspects of life, not just faith. Understanding this helps you recognize your preferences and align with sattvic choices.