tri-vidho bhavati priyah

yajnas tapas tatha danam

tesam bhedam imam srnu

āhāraḥ—eating; tu—certainly; api—also; sarvasya—of everyone; trividhaḥ—three kinds; bhavati—there are; priyaḥ—dear; yajñaḥ—sacrifice; tapaḥ—austerity; tathā—also; dānam—charity; teṣām—of them; bhedam—differences; imam—thus; śṛṇu—hear.

Even food of which all partake is of three kinds, according to the three modes of material nature. The same is true of sacrifices, austerities and charity. Listen, and I shall tell you of the distinctions of these.

sukha-priti-vivardhanah

rasyah snigdhah sthira hrdya

aharah sattvika-priyah

katv-amla-lavanaty-usna-

tiksna-ruksa-vidahinah

ahara rajasasyesta

duhkha-sokamaya-pradah

yata-yamam gata-rasam

puti paryusitam ca yat

ucchistam api camedhyam

bhojanam tamasa-priyam

āyuḥ—duration of life; sattva—existence; bala—strength; ārogya—health; sukha—happiness; prīti—and satisfaction; vivardhanāḥ—increasing; rasyāḥ—juicy; snigdhāḥ—fatty; sthirāḥ—enduring; hṛdyāḥ—pleasing to the heart; āhārāḥ—food; sāttvika—to one in goodness; priyāḥ—palatable.

Foods in the mode of goodness increase the duration of life, purify one’s existence and give strength, health, happiness and satisfaction. Such nourishing foods are sweet, juicy, fattening and palatable. Foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty, pungent, dry and hot, are liked by people in the modes of passion. Such foods cause pain, distr