Devanagari
विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम् ।
श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते ॥ १३ ॥
Verse text
vidhi-hīnam asṛṣṭānnaṁ
mantra-hīnam adakṣiṇam
śraddhā-virahitaṁ yajṣaṁ
tāmasaṁ paricakṣate
Synonyms
vidhi-hīnam
—
without scriptural direction
;
asṛṣṭa-annam
—
without distribution of prasādam
;
mantra-hīnam
—
with no chanting of the Vedic hymns
;
adakṣiṇam
—
with no remunerations to the priests
;
śraddhā
—
faith
;
virahitam
—
without
;
yajṣam
—
sacrifice
;
tāmasam
—
in the mode of ignorance
;
paricakṣate
—
is to be considered.
Translation
Any sacrifice performed without regard for the directions of scripture, without distribution of prasādam [spiritual food], without chanting of Vedic hymns and remunerations to the priests, and without faith is considered to be in the mode of ignorance.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
13. They say that the sacrifice which is contrary to scripture, with no food given in charity, without proper mantras, in which the priests are not paid, and which is performed without faith, is tamasic.
Translation (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)
13. They say that the sacrifice which is contrary to scripture, with no food given in charity, without proper mantras, in which the priests are not paid, and which is performed without faith, is tamasic.
Purport
Faith in the mode of darkness or ignorance is actually faithlessness. Sometimes people worship some demigod just to make money and then spend the money for recreation, ignoring the scriptural injunctions. Such ceremonial shows of religiosity are not accepted as genuine. They are all in the mode of darkness; they produce a demoniac mentality and do not benefit human society.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Asṛṣṭa annam means without giving food in charity.
Purport (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)
Sacrifice without food distribution (asṛṣṭa annam), in which the mantras are lacking in pitch or syllables, and which is without faith since there is animosity towards the priest (śraddhā virahitam), is known as sacrifice in the mode of ignorance.