Chapter 17 Shloka 13

विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मंत्रहीनमदक्षिणम्।

श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते।।१३।।

That yagya which is devoid of any prescribed method,

which is performed without the offering of edibles,

which is bereft of mantras and any gift to the Guru

and which is performed without faith,

is tamsic in nature.

Chapter 17 Shloka 13

विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मंत्रहीनमदक्षिणम्।

श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते।।१३।।

Bhagwan says, ‘Listen Arjuna!’

That yagya which is devoid of any prescribed method, which is performed without the offering of edibles, which is bereft of mantras and any gift to the Guru and which is performed without faith, is tamsic in nature.

The Lord says:

a) Any yagya performed merely to appease the mind;

b) Any yagya performed for the fulfilment of one’s likes;

c) Any yagya which is opposed to scriptural injunction;

d) Any yagya which opposes the basic principles enshrined in the Gita;

e) Any yagya which violates one’s code of duty;

f) Any yagya which diverts one from the divine qualities of the Lord;

g) Any yagya which opposes the Truth;

– is in fact a yagya devoid of scriptural method and correct procedure.

Living a life prescribed by the Scriptures is in fact a life of yagya. The yagya that pervades one’s entire life is the foremost yagya. Tamsic yagya violates this pure spirit of yagya.

That yagya which is performed without the offering of food to others – that is:

a) those actions which are performed only for oneself, whereby the other receives nothing;

b) those actions which are of no use to others;

c) those deeds which do not give any happiness to others;

d) that yagya which accords no respect to the Guru;

e) that yagya which does not provide any mental sustenance to another;

f) that yagya whereby intellectual food is not provided to another;

– all these constitute tamsic yagya.

Look Kamla!

1. To give of one’s qualities in the service of the world is a mark of sattva.

2. To produce any type of food as an offering for others is a mark of sattva.

3. To offer any potential one may have developed in the service of the world is a sign of sattva.

4. To give of one’s mental capacities for the benefit of others is a mark of sattva.

5. To offer one’s intellectual potential in the service of others is a sign of sattva.

Of all these, yagya of the intellect is by far the most superior because:

1. It gives the maximum happiness.

2. It is the most beneficial.

3. It is the most exalting.

One must remember that all we have discussed is an internal matter. Each one participates in action in the external world, but what really matters is the attitude that inspires the action.

The Lord states further that the yagya that is devoid of any mantra, is indeed tamsic in nature.

1. Prayer which is devoid of feeling;

2. Invocation which is devoid of yearning;

3. Yagya which is devoid of humility;

4. Worship which is bereft of a worshipful attitude;

5. Scriptural tenet which is read without any intention of obedience;

6. Conversation with the Lord which is devoid of meaning;

7. Lies which are spoken to the Lord;

– all such attitudes are indicative of tamsic yagya.

Such yagya, devoid of obedience to scriptural tenets and devoid of faith, can never be successful, whereas, a spiritual aspirant who truly chants a mantra, assimilates its meaning into practical life instantaneously.

Adakshinam (अदक्षिणम्)

a) Yagya which is devoid of gifts to the Teacher;

b) yagya which is devoid of truth;

c) yagya which is performed without dexterity and shrewdness;

d) yagya which is devoid of an obedient intellect;

e) when there is no intention of cogitation and subsequent assimilation of the scriptural injunctions in life;

f) yagya which is performed without the offering of the stipulated auspicious gifts;

– such yagya is said to be adakshinam.

Yagya devoid of faith

When tamsic individuals perform yagya:

1. They are not devoted to that yagya.

2. They have no faith in that yagya.

3. They have no interest in the aim of that yagya.

4. There is no intention of proving the mantras chanted during that yagya in one’s personal life.

Such a yagya is nothing but pretence, it is mere hypocrisy.

Tamsic yagya is performed by people filled with aberrations.

1. People enmeshed in moha, desire and anger perform this tamsic yagya.

2. Blinded by hopes and expectations they perform this tamsic yagya in the darkness of ignorance.

3. Their yagya is nothing but a show to accentuate their pride.

4. They perform yagya merely for the establishment of the ‘I’ and to establish the body-self.

Such is the tamsic yagya.