Bhagavad Gita BG 16.17
Chapter 16, Verse 17 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
आत्मसम्भाविताः स्तब्धा धनमानमदान्विताः । यजन्ते नामयज्ञैस्ते दम्भेनाविधिपूर्वकम् ॥
atma-sambhavitah stabdha dha-na-mana-madanvitah yajante nama-yajnais te dambhen avidhipurvakam
Meaning
Self-conceited, stubborn, intoxicated by the pride of wealth and honor — they perform yajnas by name with hypocrisy, not according to scriptural injunction.
Understanding
The demonic's religious practice: atma-sambhavitah (self-conceited — atma + sambhavita = self-honored, self-approved; valuing only their own opinion). Stabdha (stubborn, rigid, unyielding — unable to receive correction or teaching). Dhana-mana-mada-anvitah (possessed by the intoxication of wealth, dhana, and honor, mana — mada = intoxication, the state of being puffed up). Yajante nama-yajnaih (they perform sacrifices by name only — nama-yajna = sacrifice in name only, not in substance). Dambhena avidhipurvakam (with hypocrisy, not following the proper injunctions — avidhipurvaka = not according to vidhi/scriptural rule). The demonic's religious acts are: (1) performed for show (dambha); (2) not following proper injunction (avidhipurvaka); (3) driven by ego-intoxication (mada). This is ritual without inner alignment — the outer form with no inner substance.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| आत्मसम्भाविताः | atma-sambhavitah | self-conceited, self-honoring, valuing only one's own opinion |
| स्तब्धाः | stabdha | stubborn, rigid, unyielding, stiff |
| नामयज्ञैः | nama-yajnaih | with sacrifices in name only (nama = name, yajna = sacrifice) |
| अविधिपूर्वकम् | avidhipurvakam | not according to proper injunction/rule (a + vidhi + purvaka) |
| आत्म-सम्भाविताः | ātma-sambhāvitāḥ | self-complacent |
| स्तब्धाः | stabdhāḥ | stubborn |
| धन-मान | dhana-māna | with wealth and honor |
| मद-अन्विताः | mada-anvitāḥ | intoxicated |
| यजन्ते | yajante | they sacrifice |
| नाम | nāma-yajñaiḥ te | with nominal sacrifices |
| दम्भेन | dambhena | with ostentation |
| अविधि-पूर्वकम् | avidhi-pūrvakam | without following the rules |
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