Bhagavad Gita BG 17.12
Chapter 17, Verse 12 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
अभिसन्धाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत् । इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम् ॥
abhisandhaya tu phalam dambhartham api caiva yat ijyate bharata-shreshtha tam yajnam viddhi rajasam
Meaning
But that sacrifice which is performed with the aim of reward and also for show — know that sacrifice to be rajasic, O best of the Bharatas.
Understanding
Rajasic yajna: abhisandhaya phalam (aiming at/targeting fruit/reward — the purpose is the desired outcome). Dambhartham api ca eva (and also for the purpose of showing off/dambha — dambha = ostentation, hypocrisy, performance for others). Yat ijyate (what is worshipped/performed). Tam yajnam viddhi rajasam (know that sacrifice to be rajasic). The rajasic sacrifice has two motivations: fruit-desire (phala-abhisandhi) and show (dambha). Both make the outward form of worship into an ego-serving act. The ritual form may be correct; the interior intention makes it rajasic. This contrasts with sattvic sacrifice (v11: performed as duty without desiring fruit).
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अभिसन्धाय | abhisandhaya | having aimed at, having targeted/designed for |
| फलम् | phalam | fruit, reward, result |
| दम्भार्थम् | dambhartham | for the sake of ostentation/showing off (dambha = show, hypocrisy) |
| इज्यते | ijyate | is worshipped, is performed (sacrifice) |
| राजसम् | rajasam | rajasic (of the rajas guna) |
| अभिसन्धाय | abhisandhāya | seeking, expecting |
| तु | tu | but |
| दम्भ-अर्थम् | dambha-artham | for show, for display |
| अपि | api ca eva | and also |
| यत् | yat | which |
| भारत-श्रेष्ठ | bharata-śreṣṭha | O best of Bharatas |
| तम् | tam | that |
| यज्ञम् | yajñam | sacrifice |
| विद्धि | viddhi | know |
| राजसम् | rājasam | in passion |
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