Bg. 17.12

BG 17.12

Devanagari

अभिसन्धाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत् । इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम् ॥ १२ ॥

Verse text

abhisandhāya tu phalaṁ dambhārtham api caiva yat ijyate bharata-śreṣṭha taṁ yajṣaṁ viddhi rājasam

Synonyms

abhisandhāya desiring ; tu but ; phalam the result ; dambha pride ; artham for the sake of ; api also ; ca and ; eva certainly ; yat that which ; ijyate is performed ; bharata-śreṣṭha O chief of the Bhāratas ; tam that ; yajṣam sacrifice ; viddhi know ; rājasam in the mode of passion.

Translation

But the sacrifice performed for some material benefit, or for the sake of pride, O chief of the Bhāratas, you should know to be in the mode of passion.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

12. Know that the sacrifice performed with intention of enjoying the result, or for ostentation, is rajasic, O best of Bharata’s lineage.

Translation (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)

12. Know that the sacrifice performed with intention of enjoying the result, for ostentation, is rajasic, O best of Bharata.

Purport

Sometimes sacrifices and rituals are performed for elevation to the heavenly kingdom or for some material benefits in this world. Such sacrifices or ritualistic performances are considered to be in the mode of passion.

Purport (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)

Know that sacrifice performed with the intention of gaining svarga or other results, or for purposes of showing ones greatness (dambha artham) is sacrifice in the mode of passion.