Bhagavad Gita 17.13
vidhihīnamasṛṣṭānnaṃ mantrahīnamadakṣiṇam | śraddhāvirahitaṃ yajñaṃ tāmasaṃ paricakṣate ||17-13||
vidhihīnamasṛṣṭānnaṃ mantrahīnamadakṣiṇam | śraddhāvirahitaṃ yajñaṃ tāmasaṃ paricakṣate ||17-13||
Meaning
17.13 They declare that sacrifice as ‘done through tamas’ which is contrary to injunction, in which food is not distributed, in which mantras are not used, in which offerings are not made to priests, and which is devoid of faith.
Commentary
17.13 विधिहीनम् without keeping to ordinance? असृष्टान्नम् in which no food is distributed? मन्त्रहीनम् which is devoid of Mantras? अदक्षिणम् which is devoid of gifts? श्रद्धाविरहितम् which is devoid of faith? यज्ञम् sacrifice? तामसम् Tamasic? परिचक्षते (they) declare.Commentary A sacrifice performed by a Tamasic man is never guided by any consideration for the prescribed rites or incantation. You will find every irregularity in this sacrifice. No food is distributed. No fees which are prescribed in the scriptures are given to the priests. The Mantras are not changed properly. The hymns recited are defective in utterance and accent. Sometimes there is no recitation at all. There is no faith. A man who performs such a sacrifice does not get any merit.
Meanings are compiled and edited by the Ved Path team, and are being progressively reviewed for accuracy.