Text 7

aharas tv api sarvasya
tri-vidho bhavati priyah
yajnas tapas tatha danam
tesham bhedam imam shrinu

Translation

Even the food each person prefers is of three kinds, according to the three modes of material nature. The same is true of sacrifices, austerities and charity. Now hear of the distinctions between them.

Commentary by Srila Prabhupada

In terms of different situations in the modes of material nature, there are differences in the manner of eating and performing sacrifices, austerities and charities. They are not all conducted on the same level. Those who can understand analytically what kind of performances are in what modes of material nature are actually wise; those who consider all kinds of sacrifice or food or charity to be the same cannot discriminate, and they are foolish. There are missionary workers who advocate that one can do whatever he likes and attain perfection. But these foolish guides are not acting according to the direction of the scripture. They are manufacturing ways and misleading the people in general.

Commentary by Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur

You have described in the previous chapter those who give up scriptural rules and do things whimsically, and in this chapter have described those who, according the asura scriptures, worship yaksas, raksasa, pretas and other beings; and you have also described those who perform austerities and other acts with no scripture at all. These all end up as asuric beings. Please let me know, in like manner, as much as possible, the categories of deva and asura assumed by foods and other things to be mentioned corresponding to division of the three gunas. Thirteen verses describe these items.