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Bhagavad Gita 17.12

Chapter 17, Verse 12

Part of 17: Śhraddhā Traya Vibhāg Yogश्रद्धात्रयविभागयोग

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

Transliteration

abhisandhāya tu phalaṁ dambhārtham api chaiva yat ijyate bharata-śhreṣhṭha taṁ yajñaṁ viddhi rājasam

Meaning

The sacrifice that is offered, O Arjuna, seeking a reward and for show, know that to be a Rajasic Yajna.

Word-by-word meaning
abhisandhāyamotivated bytubutphalamthe resultdambhapridearthamfor the sake ofapialsochaandevacertainlyyatthat whichijyateis performedbharata-śhreṣhṭhaArjun, the best of the Bharatastamthatyajñamsacrificeviddhiknowrājasamin the mode of passion
Commentary

If anyone performs a sacrifice in order to obtain, heaven, son, wealth, or name and fame, then it is a sacrifice of a Rajasic nature. The performer of this kind of sacrifice has the motive of increasing his own importance, for popularising his own name in the world, for gaining some reward, for showing himself off as a great, pious and learned man, for making an exhibition of his riches for his own glorificaion. He has no aspiration for attaining the knowledge of the Self.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17, Verse 12?
The sacrifice that is offered, O Arjuna, seeking a reward and for show, know that to be a Rajasic Yajna.
Which chapter and verse of the Bhagavad Gita is this?
This is verse 12 of Chapter 17 (Śhraddhā Traya Vibhāg Yog — Yoga through Discerning the Three Divisions of Faith) of the Bhagavad Gita, a scripture of 18 chapters and 700 verses spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna.