यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान् यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः | प्रेतान् भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः ||
yajante sāttvikā devān yakṣa-rakṣāṁsi rājasāḥ pretān bhūta-gaṇāṁś cānye yajante tāmasā janāḥ
Translation
Persons of sattvic nature worship the devas; those of rajasic nature worship yakshas and rakshasas; others, the tamasic, worship pretas (spirits of the dead) and hosts of lesser beings.
Interpretation
Faith's guna-quality determines its object of worship. The sattvic worship the devas — the luminous cosmic forces of light and order. The rajasic worship yakshas (wealth-beings) and rakshasas (power-beings) — forces associated with accumulation, domination, and worldly success. The tamasic worship pretas (departed spirits) and bhuta-ganas (hosts of dark beings) — forces associated with fear, superstition, and the shadow realms. This is not a judgment of specific traditions but an analysis of motivation: the same external ritual can be sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic depending on the quality of consciousness and motivation behind it.