In Bhagavad Gita 17.12, Krishna says sacrifice offered with an eye to its reward, or for show, is rajasic.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अभिसन्धाय तु फलं
दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत्
इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ
तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम् ॥ १७-१२ ॥
abhisandhāya tu phalaṃ
dambhārthamapi caiva yat
ijyate bharataśreṣṭha
taṃ yajñaṃ viddhi rājasam
English transliteration abhisandhaaya tu phalam
dambhaarthamapi chaiva yat
ijyate bharatashreshtha
tam yajnam viddhi raajasam ॥ 17.12 ॥
Translation / Meaning
But that sacrifice which is offered with an eye to its reward, or for the sake of display, O best of the Bharatas, know it to be rajasic.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अभिसन्धाय abhisandhāya | with an eye to |
| तु tu | but |
| फलम् phalam | reward |
| दम्भार्थम् dambhārtham | for the sake of display dambha (display) + artham (for the sake of) |
| अपि api | or |
| च ca | and |
| एव eva | also |
| यत् yat | which |
| इज्यते ijyate | is offered |
| भरतश्रेष्ठ bharataśreṣṭha | O best of the Bharatas |
| तम् tam | that |
| यज्ञम् yajñam | sacrifice |
| विद्धि viddhi | know |
| राजसम् rājasam | rajasic |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–bhi–san–dhā–ya tu pha–laṃ 8 syllables a-bhi-san-dhaa-ya tu pha-lam
- dam–bhār–tha–ma–pi cai–va yat | 8 syllables dam-bhaar-tha-ma-pi chai-va yat
- ij–ya–te bha–ra–taś–reṣ–ṭha 8 syllables ij-ya-te bha-ra-tash-resh-tha
- taṃ ya–jñaṃ vid–dhi rā–ja–sam || 17-12 8 syllables tam ya-jnam vid-dhi raa-ja-sam
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 17 Verse 12
Context
Krishna describes the three kinds of sacrifice (17.11–17.13).
Meaning
Rajasic worship is done abhisandhāya phalam, with a calculated eye on the reward, or dambhārtham, to impress others. It may be elaborate and impressive, but its motive is self-interest.
Much religious activity can slip into this. The question is always: why am I doing this?
In Practice
Before your next act of worship or service, check your motive. Is it for reward or display?
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 17: Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga (The Threefold Nature of Faith). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.