Bhagavad Gita · Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga — The Three Kinds of Faith
Chapter 17, Verse 12
"Bhagavad Gita 17.12" — meaning and explanation.
अभिसन्धाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत् | इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम्
abhisandhāya tu phalaṃ dambhārthamapi caiva yat . ijyate bharataśreṣṭha taṃ yajñaṃ viddhi rājasam
Meaning
17.12 The sacrifice which is offered, O Arjuna, seeking a reward and for ostentation, know thou that to be a Rajasic Yajna.
।।17.12।। हे भरतश्रेष्ठ अर्जुन ! जो यज्ञ दम्भ के लिए तथा फल की आकांक्षा रख कर किया जाता है, उस यज्ञ को तुम राजस समझो।।
Explanation
17.12 अभिसंधाय seeking for? तु indeed? फलम् fruit? दम्भार्थम् for ostentation? अपि also? च and? एव even? यत् which? इज्यते is offered? भरतश्रेष्ठ O best of the Bharatas? तम् that? यज्ञम् sacrifice? विद्धि know? राजसम् Rajasic.Commentary If anyone performs a sacrifice in order to obtain? heaven? son? wealth? or name and fame? then it is a sacrifice of a Rajasic nature. The performer of this kind of sacrifice has the motive of increasing his own importance? for popularising his own name in the world? for gaining some reward? for showing himself off as a great? pious and learned man? for making an exhibition of his riches for his own glorificaion. He has no aspiration for attaining the knowledge of the Self.
Life Lesson
Study Bhagavad Gita 17.12 slowly, then express its central teaching through one thoughtful action in daily life.
Context
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17, verse 12, from Krishna's dialogue with Arjuna at Kurukshetra.
Bhagavad Gita 17.12
This page presents the Sanskrit verse, transliteration, Hindi meaning, English meaning, and a simple explanation for study. For a fuller understanding, read this shloka in sequence with the rest of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 17.12 mean?
17.12 The sacrifice which is offered, O Arjuna, seeking a reward and for ostentation, know thou that to be a Rajasic Yajna.
What is the life lesson of this verse?
Study Bhagavad Gita 17.12 slowly, then express its central teaching through one thoughtful action in daily life.
What is the context of this verse?
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17, verse 12, from Krishna's dialogue with Arjuna at Kurukshetra.