BG 17.12 (1972)
TEXT 12
- अभिसन्धाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत् ।
- इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम् ॥१२॥
- abhisandhāya tu phalaṁ
- dambhārtham api caiva yat
- ijyate bharata-śreṣṭha
- taṁ yajñaṁ viddhi rājasam
SYNONYMS
abhisandhāya—desiring; tu—but; phalam—the result; dambha—pride; artham—material benefits; api—also; ca—and; eva—certainly; yat—that which; ijyate—worship; bharata-śreṣṭha—O chief of the Bhāratas; tam—that; yajñam—sacrifice; viddhi—know; rājasam—in the mode of passion.
TRANSLATION
But that sacrifice performed for some material end or benefit or performed ostentatiously, out of pride, is of the nature of passion, O chief of the Bhāratas.
PURPORT
Sometimes sacrifices and rituals are performed for elevation to the heavenly kingdom or for some material benefits in this world. Such sacrifices or ritualistic performances are considered to be in the mode of passion.