In the preceding verse the matter of faith in the Truth Supreme has been discussed. All the tasks which are done with faith in the Lord, done in His spirit for His sake are defined as goodness. Here in this verse is given a very clear warning.

The title of this chapter is the Yoga of three-fold classification of faith. Faith is the first essential constituent of any spiritual undertaking. Laws and procedures, norms and discipline-all are good and necessary, but there is no completeness without the feeling of faith. If sacrifice, austerity and charity are mere formality and display or are done for the purpose of establishing one's own name; in that there is no emotion or faith towards the Lord or towards the nature and effect of the actions being undertaken; then think how and why it will be of any benefit or a producer of results. Sacrifice is being performed; oblations are being offered, but inside is prevailing hypocrisy-deceit and craving for worldly indulgences-there is no presence of any kind of divine emotions. In this 'sat' there is no abidance, faith or surrender; in straight terms there is no connection with 'sat' at all! The attitude is of dullness and of harsh behaviour. The accumulation of worldly enjoyments is actually unreal and unreal only. Similar is the state of austerity and charity.

A straightforward expression-as the kind of faith is entertained in the performance of action is, so will be the outcome. The significance lies not in the action but with the attitude. Just as the inside emotions are accordingly, one will experience the effect of that state. If in the emotions dwells the unreal body or the unreal world, then how can one expect the resultant effect to be real! The effect of the unreal cannot be in the form of peace while one is in the body, nor is one to gain anything after giving up the body. Actions do not have any reach beyond this point. Think. Actions are superior, but as the emotions for the Truth Supreme do not prevail while action is being undertaken, there is inability to develop noble emotions towards the Lord, and also there is absence of faith inside, even while doing all what has been gained? Faith is the very foundation of this chapter. Any action can become fruitful if performed with faith. Along with food the three types of sacrifice, austerity and charity (satvic, rajas and tamas) have been discussed. In fact, these are only distinctions between what is worthy to be done and what is not worthy to be done. The outstanding feature of human birth is the power of discernment between proper and improper, things worth doing and those not worth doing. Take full advantage of this outstanding feature and do not deprive yourself of it. Only the satvic attitude is to be adopted; that too by associating it with 'sat' (truth), filled with emotions dedicated to the Divine, offering the activities to the Divine with full faith in the Lord! The emotion of faith can only provide the benefit of satvic activities in true sense; otherwise, even after the performance of satvic activities, there will be no gain in this world or the world beyond.