Chapter 17 · Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga - The Yoga of the Division of Threefold FaithKrishna
Verse 12
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 17, श्लोक 12
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
अभिसन्धाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत्।
इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम्॥
Transliteration
Abhisandhaya tu phalam dambha-artham-api chaiva yat
Ijyate Bharata-shreshtha tam yajnam viddhi rajasam
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
अभिसन्धायabhisandhayaaiming at
फलम्phalamfruit/result
दम्भार्थम्dambha-arthamfor the sake of show
अपिapialso
इज्यतेijyateis performed
भरतश्रेष्ठBharata-shreshthaO best of Bharatas
तम्tamthat
यज्ञम्yajnamsacrifice
विद्धिviddhiknow
राजसम्rajasamrajasic
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
हे भरतश्रेष्ठ! जो यज्ञ फल की दृष्टि से अथवा दम्भ (दिखावे) के लिए किया जाता है, उसे राजसिक जानो।
English Translation
But that sacrifice which is performed with expectation of reward or for the sake of show — know that to be rajasic, O best of Bharatas.
Commentary (टीका)
When sacrifice is motivated by personal gain or public display, it becomes rajasic. The external form may appear identical to sattvic sacrifice, but the inner motivation corrupts it. This teaching emphasizes that spiritual quality depends on intention, not just outward action.