BG 17 VERSE 12
अभिसन्धाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत्
इज्यते भरत श्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम्
abhisandhāya tu phalaṃ
dambhārtham api caiva yat
ijyate bharata-śreṣṭha
taṃ yajñaṃ 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.
