In Bhagavad Gita 17.13, Krishna says sacrifice done without proper method, without distributing food, without mantras, without gifts to priests and without faith is tamasic.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं
मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम्
श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं
तामसं परिचक्षते ॥ १७-१३ ॥
vidhihīnamasṛṣṭānnaṃ
mantrahīnamadakṣiṇam
śraddhāvirahitaṃ yajñaṃ
tāmasaṃ paricakṣate
English transliteration vidhiheenamasrishtaannam
mantraheenamadakshinam
shraddhaavirahitam yajnam
taamasam parichakshate ॥ 17.13 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Sacrifice that is contrary to the injunctions, in which no food is distributed, which is without mantras, without offerings to the priests and devoid of faith, is declared to be tamasic.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| विधिहीनम् vidhihīnam | contrary to the injunctions vidhi (injunctions) + hīnam (lacking) |
| असृष्टान्नम् asṛṣṭānnam | in which no food is distributed asṛṣṭa (not distributed) + annam (food) |
| मन्त्रहीनम् mantrahīnam | without mantras mantra (mantras) + hīnam (lacking) |
| अदक्षिणम् adakṣiṇam | without offerings to the priests |
| श्रद्धाविरहितम् śraddhāvirahitam | devoid of faith śraddhā (faith) + virahitam (devoid) |
| यज्ञम् yajñam | sacrifice |
| तामसम् tāmasam | tamasic |
| परिचक्षते paricakṣate | is declared |
Word-wise Chanting
- vi–dhi–hī–na–ma–sṛṣ–ṭān–naṃ 8 syllables vi-dhi-hee-na-ma-srish-taan-nam
- man–tra–hī–na–ma–da–kṣi–ṇam | 8 syllables man-tra-hee-na-ma-da-kshi-nam
- śrad–dhā–vi–ra–hi–taṃ ya–jñaṃ 8 syllables shrad-dhaa-vi-ra-hi-tam ya-jnam
- tā–ma–saṃ pa–ri–ca–kṣa–te || 17-13 8 syllables taa-ma-sam pa-ri-cha-ksha-te
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 13
Context
Krishna describes the three kinds of sacrifice (17.11–17.13).
Meaning
Tamasic worship is careless: vidhi-hīna, without right method; asṛṣṭānna, without sharing food with others; mantra-hīna, without sacred words; adakṣiṇa, without honouring those who serve; and śraddhā-virahita, without faith. It is empty form.
Worship without care, generosity or faith is hollow. Even a simple act becomes sacred when done with attention and faith.
In Practice
Do your next act of worship with full care, sharing something with others afterward.
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.