Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17, Verse 13

Chapter 17 – Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम् ।
श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते ॥

Transliteration

vidhihīnamasṛṣṭānnaṃ mantrahīnamadakṣiṇam .
śraddhāvirahitaṃ yajñaṃ tāmasaṃ paricakṣate ॥

Meaning

A sacrifice performed without regard to scriptural procedure, in which no food is distributed, no mantras are chanted, no fees are given to the priests and there is no faith, is called tamasic.

Word meanings

विधिहीनम् – without scriptural procedure
असृष्टान्नम् – in which no food is distributed
मन्त्रहीनम् – without mantras
अदक्षिणम् – without fees (dakshina) to the priests
श्रद्धाविरहितम् – devoid of faith
यज्ञम् – sacrifice
तामसम् – tamasic
परिचक्षते – they declare

Anvaya (word order)

विधिहीनम् असृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनम् अदक्षिणं श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते ।

Explanation

The last of the three kinds of sacrifice is the tamasic. Five marks are given, and all share one feature: absence. Where the sattvic sacrifice is complete in every respect, in the tamasic sacrifice everything is lacking or missing.

Vidhi-hinam: it is performed carelessly, disregarding scriptural procedure. Asrishtannam: no food is distributed. In Indian tradition, feeding the hungry and the learned is an essential part of sacrifice; the very meaning of sacrifice is sharing. In the tamasic sacrifice this generosity is absent.

Mantra-hinam: there is no correct chanting of mantras, or no mantras at all. Mantras are the life of a sacrifice; they give the act its spiritual direction. Adakshinam: the officiating teacher or priest receives no proper dakshina. Dakshina is a sign of gratitude and respect; its absence is ingratitude.

Most important of all, shraddha-virahitam: there is no faith in it. Such a sacrifice is performed mechanically, out of mere custom or social pressure, with no feeling. Without faith everything else becomes meaningless as well, as the final verse of this chapter states plainly (17.28).

These five marks can be understood in today's terms too. Any undertaking done without discipline, without generosity, without proper thought, without gratitude and without heart is tamasic.

Context

Verses 11 and 12 described sattvic and rajasic sacrifice; this verse describes tamasic sacrifice and completes the subject. The next three verses describe austerity of body, speech and mind.

Life lesson

An act done without discipline, without sharing, without gratitude and without faith remains hollow. Bring heart and generosity into every good work you do.

Key terms

Tamasic yajna: Sacrifice lacking procedure, food-giving, mantras, dakshina and faith
Asrishtanna: In which no food is distributed
Dakshina: The respectful offering given to those who conduct a sacrifice