Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16, Verse 17

Chapter 16 – Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

आत्मसम्भाविताः स्तब्धा धनमानमदान्विताः ।
यजन्ते नामयज्ञैस्ते दम्भेनाविधिपूर्वकम् ॥

Transliteration

ātmasambhāvitāḥ stabdhā dhanamānamadānvitāḥ .
yajante nāmayajñaiste dambhenāvidhipūrvakam ॥

Meaning

Self-conceited, stubborn, intoxicated with the pride of wealth and honour, they perform sacrifices in name only, out of ostentation and without regard for scriptural injunctions.

Word meanings

आत्मसम्भाविताः – self-conceited, self-glorified
स्तब्धाः – stubborn, unbending
धनमानमदान्विताः – intoxicated with the pride of wealth and honour
यजन्ते – they sacrifice, worship
नामयज्ञैः – with sacrifices in name only
ते – they
दम्भेन – out of ostentation
अविधिपूर्वकम् – without following scriptural injunctions

Anvaya (word order)

आत्मसम्भाविताः स्तब्धाः धनमानमदान्विताः ते दम्भेन अविधिपूर्वकं नामयज्ञैः यजन्ते ।

Explanation

In verse 15 the demonic person said, yakshye dasyami, 'I shall perform sacrifices, I shall give in charity.' Here Krishna shows what those sacrifices are really like.

Atma-sambhavitah: they consider themselves great. Their greatness is not recognised by others on account of real virtue but proclaimed by themselves. Stabdhah: they are stiff and unbending, without humility; they bow before no one, neither teacher nor elders nor God. Dhana-mana-madanvitah: the intoxication of wealth and prestige is upon them.

Such people perform nama-yajna. The phrase has two senses. It can mean a sacrifice in name only, which has the outer form of worship but lacks inner faith and feeling. It can also mean a sacrifice performed for nama, for name and fame.

They do it dambhena, for show, and avidhi-purvakam, disregarding scriptural procedure. What matters to them is not what the scripture says but what people will see. There is a warning here for our own time: when religious events, charity and service are done for photographs, publicity and prestige, they become 'sacrifices in name only'. Chapter 17 classifies such sacrifices as rajasic and tamasic (17.12–13).

Context

The previous verse mentioned the fall of the demonic into hell; this verse exposes the hollowness of their religious acts. The next verse describes their egoism and their hatred of the Lord.

Life lesson

The value of religion lies not in outward display but in inner faith and humility. Whatever good you do, do it not for fame but for God and the welfare of others.

Key terms

Atma-sambhavita: Self-conceited, self-glorifying
Stabdha: Stubborn, stiff, lacking humility
Nama-yajna: A sacrifice in name only, or performed for fame
Avidhi-purvaka: Without regard for scriptural injunctions