abhisandhāya tu phalaḿ
dambhārtham api caiva yat
ijyate bharata-śreṣṭha
taḿ yajñaḿ viddhi rājasam
Translation of Bhagavad Gita 17.12
But the sacrifice performed for some material benefit, or for the sake of pride, O chief of the Bharatas, you should know to be in the mode of passion.
Commentary by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
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.
Commentary by Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
No commentary by Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur.
Commentary by Sri Ramanuja of Sri Sampradaya:
17.12 That sacrifice, performed to gain fruits, full of ostentation and with fame as its aim, know that sacrifice to be characterised by Rajas.
Commentary by Sri Sridhara Swami of Rudra Sampradaya:
The yagna or acts of propitiation and worship which may be performed according to Vedic scriptures but is enacted ostentatiously for aggrandizement and pompously for prestige with the covert, underlying desire for rewards is revealed by Lord Krishna as merely situated in raja guna the mode of passion.
Commentary by Sri Madhvacharya of Brahma Sampradaya:
Sri Madhvacharya did not comment on this sloka.
Commentary by Sri Keshava Kashmiri of Kumara Sampradaya:
That yagna or propitiation and worship which externally may be performed according to the Vedic scriptures but internally is plagued with desires to acquire the fruits of its rewards and is ostentatiously enacted out of pride and gregariously carried out for prestige is irascibly performed in the mode of passion.
Commentary by Sri Adi Shankaracharya of Advaita Sampradaya:
17.12 Tu, but; yat, that which; is ijyate, performed; abhisandhaya, having in view; a phalam, result; api ca, as also; dambhartham, for ostentation; viddhi, know; tam, that; yajnam, sacrifice; to be rajasam, done through rajas; bharatasrestha, O greatest among the descendants of Bharata.
Commentary by Sri Abhinavagupta of Kaula Tantra Sampradaya:
17.11-13 Aphala-etc. upto paricaksate. Stabilizing mind : by firmly believing. Also for the sake of display etc. Display : an intention ‘Let the world take me to be of this natrue’. That which is devoid of scriptural injunction : that which is devoid of rituals prescribed in the scriptures. The same
Sanskrit Shloka Without Transliteration Marks:
abhisandhaya tu phalam
dambhartham api caiva yat
ijyate bharata-srestha
tam yajñam viddhi rajasam
Sanskrit to English Word for Word Meanings:
abhisandhāya — desiring; tu — but; phalam — the result; dambha — pride; artham — for the sake of; api — also; ca — and; eva — certainly; yat — that which; ijyate — is performed; bharata-śreṣṭha — O chief of the Bhāratas; tam — that; yajñam — sacrifice; viddhi — know; rājasam — in the mode of passion.
