Bhagavad Gita BG 17.13
Chapter 17, Verse 13 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम् । श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते ॥
vidhi-hinam asrishta-annam mantra-hinam adakshinam shraddhA-virahitam yajnam tamasam paricakshate
Meaning
The sacrifice that is contrary to scriptural ordinance, without distribution of food, without mantras, without gifts to the officiants, and devoid of faith — is declared to be tamasic.
Understanding
Tamasic yajna is defined by what it lacks: vidhi-hinam (without proper form/injunction), asrishta-annam (without the distribution of food — the communal feeding that is part of yajna), mantra-hinam (without mantras — without the sacred speech that gives the action its metaphysical dimension), adakshinam (without dakshina — the gifts given to priests and worthy recipients). And fundamentally: shraddha-virahitam (devoid of shraddha — without faith). If rajasic yajna has the right form but the wrong motive, tamasic yajna does not even maintain the form. It is the husk — going through motions without any of the living elements (speech, community, generosity, faith) that make yajna real.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| विधिहीनम् | vidhi-hinam | without proper injunction/rule, contrary to scriptural form |
| असृष्टान्नम् | asrishta-annam | without distribution of food (asrishta = not distributed, annam = food) |
| मन्त्रहीनम् | mantra-hinam | without mantras, without sacred recitation |
| अदक्षिणम् | adakshinam | without gifts/fees to priests (dakshina = gift, honorarium) |
| श्रद्धाविरहितम् | shraddhA-virahitam | devoid of faith (shraddha = faith, virahita = bereft of) |
| विधि-हीनम् | vidhi-hīnam | without scriptural injunction |
| असृष्ट-अन्नम् | asṛṣṭa-annam | without distributing food |
| मन्त्र-हीनम् | mantra-hīnam | without chanting of hymns |
| अदक्षिणम् | adakṣiṇam | without gifts to priests |
| श्रद्धा-विरहितम् | śraddhā-virahitam | devoid of faith |
| यज्ञम् | yajñam | sacrifice |
| तामसम् | tāmasam | in the mode of ignorance |
| परिचक्षते | paricakṣate | is declared to be |