Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17, Verse 13 (BG 17.13) — Meaning, Translation & 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.

Commentaries

Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.

This interpretation draws on a specific tradition and may not represent the view of any single school. For authoritative guidance within a specific tradition, seek a qualified teacher.

Modern

A sacrifice performed in the manner described in this verse yields neither happiness for the one who performs it nor benefit for others in society. Without the gift of sustenance—in the language of dharma shastra, the word "food" signifies the fundamental necessities of our life. In modern language, these are indicated by food, clothing, and shelter. It is the duty of a human being to give in charity those things available to them to those who are in need of them. Such an act of giving can never be possible without love. A person of tamasic nature does not give the prescribed gifts even in the performance of sacrifice. In the observance of ritual ceremonies, the recitation of mantras and the offering of fees to learned priests are necessary, but a person of tamasic nature pays no attention to any of these rules. Therefore, the sacrifice performed by such a person is called tamasic. In the next three verses, the true nature of tapasya is revealed, and thereafter the three types of austerities are described according to the distinctions of the gunas.