यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान् यक्ष रक्षांसि राजसाः
प्रेतान् भूत गणान् च अन्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः
यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः ।
प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः ॥१७:४॥
yajante saatwikaa devaanyaksharakshaansi raajasaah
pretaanbhootaganaanshchaanye yajante taamasaa janaah ||17:4||
yajante saattwikaa devaan yaksa rakshaansi raajasah
pretaan bhoota ganaan cha anye yajante taamasaa janaah
Purport Truthfuls worship the gods, those with attachment to the class of deities protecting the treasures of heaven. The ignorant people worship the batches of demons, ghosts, spirits and others.
सात्त्विका (saattwikaa) -- truthfuls; those with essential or eternal qualities
देवान् (devaan) -- deities; gods
यक्ष (yaksha) -- class of deities protecting the treasures of heaven (Kuber)
रक्षांसि (rakshaamsi) -- demons
राजसाः (raajasaah) -- those with attraction or attachment
भूत (bhoota) -- ghost
गणान् (ganaan) -- gangs; batches
च (cha) -- also; and
अन्ये (anye) -- others
यजन्ते (yajante) -- sacrifice; worship
तामसा (taamasaa) -- those with darkness or ignorance qualities
जनाः (janaah) -- people