🪷 Bhagavad-Gītā · 17.13
Chapter 17 · श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोग · Śraddhā-Traya-Vibhāga-Yoga · "The Yoga of the Three Types of Faith" · Verse 13 of 28
🪷 English Translations
Five authentic English voices · each from a distinct sampradāya · together revealing the verse's full śabda-tattva.
Shri Purohit Swami · Poetic English · 1935 · public domain · Cosmo Press tradition
17.13 Sacrifice that is contrary to scriptural command, that is unaccompanied by prayers or gifts of food or money, and is without faith - that is the product of Ignorance.
Swami Sivananda · Direct prose · Divine Life Society
17.13 They declare that sacrifice to be Tamasic which is contrary to the ordinances of the scriptures, in which no food is distributed, which is devoid of Mantras, gifts and faith.
Swami Gambīrānanda · Word-key glosses · Advaita Ashrama · Śaṅkara-school
17.13 Paricaksate, they delclare; that yajnam, sacrifice; as tamasam, done through tamas; which is vidhi-hinam, contrary to injunction, opposed to what is enjoined; asrstannam, in which food is not distributed-a sacrifice in which food (annam) is not distributed (asrstam) to Brahmanas; mantra-hinam, in which mantras are not used, which is bereft of mantras, intonation and distinct pronunciation; adaksinam, in which offerings are not made to priests as prescribed; and which is sraddha-virahitam, devoid of faith.
After that, now is being stated the three kinds of austerity:
Swami Ādidevānanda · Śrī-Vaiṣṇava perspective · Rāmānuja school
17.13 They say that sacrifice is Tamasa, which is bereft of the authority of injunction of Brahmanas of learning and good conduct as 'Do this sacrifice,' which is 'Asrstanna' viz., which uses offerings (materials) not sanctioned by the Sastras; which is performed without recitation of hymns; and which is bereft of gifts and faith.
Now, to explain the threefold division of austerities according to their source in the Gunas, Sri Krsna describes their differences in respect of the body, speech and mind:
Dr. S. Sankaranarayan · Academic precision · modern scholarly
17.13. That sacrifice they declare to be of the Tamas (Strand) which is devoid of scriptural injunction, in which there is no [recitation of] Vedic hymns, where no food and [sacrifical] fee are distributed, and which is totally devoid of faith.
🪷 Hindi Translation · हिन्दी अनुवाद
For the Hindi-aware seer · Pūjya Swami Rāmsukhdās ji's translation · a high-readability modern Hindi rendering · Gītā-Press Gorakhpur tradition. (→ Full Mahāpurusha-detail page for the 102-year-living Sādhaka-Sañjīvanī Mahātmā.)
🪷 Swami Rāmsukhdās · Sādhaka-Sañjīvanī tradition · Gītā-Press Gorakhpur · highest modern Hindi reading
।।17.13।।शास्त्रविधिसे हीन, अन्न-दानसे रहित, बिना मन्त्रोंके, बिना दक्षिणाके और बिना श्रद्धाके किये जानेवाले यज्ञको तामस यज्ञ कहते हैं।
🪷 English Commentaries · The Ācārya Voices
The classical commentary tradition rendered in English · each ācārya speaks from their own sampradāya · the seer chooses the depth of darśana.
Swami Sivananda · Verse-by-verse word-keys with Sanskrit anchors
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.
Swami Gambīrānanda · Advaita-school commentary (Śaṅkara tradition)
17.13 Paricaksate, they delclare; that yajnam, sacrifice; as tamasam, done through tamas; which is vidhi-hinam, contrary to injunction, opposed to what is enjoined; asrstannam, in which food is not distributed-a sacrifice in which food (annam) is not distributed (asrstam) to Brahmanas; mantra-hinam, in which mantras are not used, which is bereft of mantras, intonation and distinct pronunciation; adaksinam, in which offerings are not made to priests as prescribed; and which is sraddha-virahitam, devoid of faith.
After that, now is being stated the three kinds of austerity:
Swami Ādidevānanda · Rāmānuja Śrī-Vaiṣṇava commentary
17.13 They say that sacrifice is Tamasa, which is bereft of the authority of injunction of Brahmanas of learning and good conduct as 'Do this sacrifice,' which is 'Asrstanna' viz., which uses offerings (materials) not sanctioned by the Sastras; which is performed without recitation of hymns; and which is bereft of gifts and faith.
Now, to explain the threefold division of austerities according to their source in the Gunas, Sri Krsna describes their differences in respect of the body, speech and mind:
Dr. S. Sankaranarayan · Modern academic scholarship
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 [feature] is elaborated by the attributives 'That in which no food is distributed' etc.
Swami Chinmayānanda · Chinmaya Mission · modern Vedantic teaching
।।17.13।। इस श्लोक में कथित प्रकार से किया हुआ यज्ञ न यज्ञकर्ता के लिए सुखवर्धक सिद्ध होता है और न समाज के अन्य लोगों के लिए लाभदायक।अन्नदान रहित धर्मशास्त्र की भाषा में? हमारे जीवन की मूलभूत आवश्यकताओं को अन्न शब्द के द्वारा सूचित किया जाता है। आधुनिक काल की भाषा में भोजनवस्त्रऔर गृह के द्वारा उन्हें इंगित किया जाता है। मनुष्य का कर्तव्य है कि वह अपने पास उपलब्ध वस्तुओं का दान उन लोगों को दें? जिन्हें उनकी आवश्यकता होती है। ऐसा दान प्रेम के बिना कभी संभव ही नहीं हो सकता। तमोगुणी पुरुष यज्ञ कर्म के अनुष्ठान में भी शास्त्रोक्त दान नहीं करता है।कर्मकाण्ड के अनुष्ठान में मन्त्रों का उच्चारण तथा शिक्षित पुरोहितों को दक्षिणा देना आवश्यक होता है? परन्तु तमोगुणी पुरुष इन सब नियमों की ओर ध्यान ही नहीं देता है। अत उसके द्वारा अनुष्ठित यज्ञ तामस कहलाता है।अगले तीन श्लोकों में तप के वास्तविक स्वरूप को दर्शाकर? तत्पश्चात् गुण भेद से त्रिविध तपों का वर्णन किया गया है
🪷 Hindi Vyākhyā · हिन्दी व्याख्या
Pūjya Swami Rāmsukhdās ji's Sādhaka-Sañjīvanī · one of the great modern Hindi vyākhyās of the Gītā · direct, pure, deeply Vedāntic · the modern Sanātana-jāgaraṇa. (→ Full Mahāpurusha-detail page · 1904-2005 · Corner 1 Mādhurya operational anchor · whose 6-lakṣaṇa-śaraṇāgati IS Constitutional Principle 24.)
🪷 Swami Rāmsukhdās · Sādhaka-Sañjīvanī · Hindi vyākhyā · the modern bilingual anchor
।।17.13।। व्याख्या -- विधिहीनम् -- अलगअलग यज्ञोंकी अलगअलग विधियाँ होती हैं और उसके अनुसार यज्ञकुण्ड? स्रुवा आदि पात्र? बैठनेकी दिशा? आसन आदिका विचार होता है। अलगअलग देवताओंकी अलगअलग सामग्री होती है जैसे -- देवीके यज्ञमें लाल वस्त्र और लाल सामग्री होती है। परन्तु तामस यज्ञमें इन विधियोंका पालन नहीं होता? प्रत्युत उपेक्षापूर्वक विधिका त्याग होता है।असृष्टान्नम् -- तामस मनुष्य जो द्रव्ययज्ञ करते हैं? उसमें ब्राह्मणादिको अन्नदान नहीं किया जाता। तामस मनुष्योंका यह भाव रहता है कि मुफ्तमें रोटी मिलनेसे वे आलसी हो जायेंगे? कामधंधा नहीं करेंगे।मन्त्रहीनम् -- वेदोंमें और वेदानुकूल शास्त्रोंमें कहे हुए मन्त्रोंसे ही द्रव्ययज्ञ किया जाता है। परन्तु तामस यज्ञमें वैदिक तथा शास्त्रीय मन्त्रोंसे यज्ञ नहीं किया जाता। कारण कि तामस पुरुषोंका यह भाव रहता है कि आहुति देनेमात्रसे यज्ञ हो जाता है? सुगन्ध हो जाती है? गंदे परमाणु नष्ट हो जाते हैं? फिर मन्त्रोंकी क्या जरूरत है आदि।अदक्षिणम् -- तामस यज्ञमें दान नहीं किया जाता। कारण कि तामस पुरुषोंका यह भाव रहता है कि हमने यज्ञमें आहुति दे दी और ब्राह्मणोंको अच्छी तरहसे भोजन करा दिया? अब उनको दक्षिणा देनेकी क्या जरूरत रही यदि हम उनको दक्षिणा देंगे तो वे आलसीप्रमादी हो जायँगे? पुरुषार्थहीन हो जायँगे? जिससे दुनियामें बेकारी फैलेगी दूसरी बात? जिन ब्राह्मणोंको दक्षिणा मिलती है? वे कुछ कमाते ही नहीं? इसलिये वे पृथ्वीपर भाररूप रहते हैं? इत्यादि। वे तामस मनुष्य यह नहीं सोचते कि ब्राह्मणादिको अन्नदान? दक्षिणा आदि न देनेसे वे तो प्रमादी बनें? चाहे न बनें पर शास्त्रविधिका? अपने कर्तव्यकर्मका त्याग करनेसे हम तो प्रमादी बन ही गयेश्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते -- अग्निमें आहुति देनेके विषयमें तामस मनुष्योंका यह भाव रहता है कि अन्न? घी? जौ? चावल? नारियल? छुहारा आदि तो मनुष्यके निर्वाहके कामकी चीजें हैं। ऐसी चीजोंको अग्निमें फूँक देना कितनी मूर्खता है (टिप्पणी प0 849.1) अपनी प्रसिद्धि? मानबड़ाईके लिये वे यज्ञ करते भी हैं तो बिना शास्त्रविधिके? बिना अन्नदानके? बिना मन्त्रोंके और बिना दक्षिणाके करते हैं। उनकी शास्त्रोंपर? शास्त्रोक्त मन्त्रोंपर और उनमें बतायी हुई विधियोंपर तथा शास्त्रोक्त विधिपूर्वक की गयी यज्ञकी क्रियापर और उसके पारलौकिक फलपर भी श्रद्धाविश्वास नहीं होते। कारण कि उनमें मूढ़ता होती है। उनमें अपनी तो अक्ल होती नहीं और दूसरा कोई समझा दे तो उसे मानते नहीं।इस तामस यज्ञमें यः शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य वर्तते कामकारतः (गीता 16। 23) और अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत् (गीता 17। 28) -- ये दोनों भाव होते हैं। अतः वे इहलोक और परलोकका जो फल चाहते हैं? वह उनको नहीं मिलता -- न सिद्धिमवाप्नोति न सुखं न परां गतिम्? न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह। तात्पर्य है कि उनको उपेक्षापूर्वक किये गये शुभकर्मोंका इच्छित फल तो नहीं मिलेगा? पर अशुभकर्मोंका फल (अधोगति) तो मिलेगा ही -- अधो गच्छन्ति तामसाः (14। 18)। कारण कि अशुभ फलमें अश्रद्धा ही हेतु है और वे अश्रद्धापूर्वक ही शास्त्रविरुद्ध आचरण करते हैं अतः इसका दण्ड तो उनको मिलेगा ही।इन यज्ञोंमें कर्ता? ज्ञान? क्रिया? धृति? बुद्धि? सङ्ग? शास्त्र? खानपान आदि यदि सात्त्विक होंगे? तो वह यज्ञ सात्त्विक हो जायगा यदि राजस होंगे? तो वह यज्ञ राजस हो जायगा और यदि तामस होंगे? तो वह यज्ञ,तामस हो जायगा। सम्बन्ध -- ग्यारहवें? बारहवें और तेरहवें श्लोकमें क्रमशः सात्त्विक? राजस और तामस यज्ञका वर्णन करके अब आगेके तीन श्लोकोंमें क्रमशः शारीरिक? वाचिक और मानसिक तपका वर्णन करते हैं (जिसका सात्त्विक? राजस और तामसभेद आगे करेंगे)।
🪷 Place in the Bhagavad-Gītā
- This is verse 13 of 28 in Chapter 17 · Śraddhā-Traya-Vibhāga-Yoga (The Yoga of the Three Types of Faith)
- Chapter theme: Three types of śraddhā · food · yajña · tapas · dāna · BG 17.23 Oṁ Tat Sat
- Ṣaṭka grouping: ANTYA-Ṣaṭka (BG 13-18 · the resolution)
- Chapter hub: /shraddha-traya
- ⭐ Mahābhārata anchor: this verse is also MBh 6.39.13 (Bhīṣma-Parva · the BG in its full narrative home)
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BG 17.13local Bhagavad-Gītā verse route and source-anchor sectionChapter 17 hubŚraddhā-Traya-Vibhāga-Yoga · The Yoga of the Three Types of FaithMBh 6.39.13exact Bhīṣma-Parva source route for this Gītā verse/bhagavad-gitamaster index for all 18 chapters and 701 verse routesBhīṣma-ParvaMahābhārata narrative home where the Bhagavad-Gītā is received/mahabharatafull Itihāsa source spine for Vyāsa Maharṣi's MahābhārataBG 1 · Arjuna-Viṣāda YogaTVAM-Ṣaṭka chapter hub for Arjuna-Viṣāda YogaBG 2 · Sāṅkhya YogaTVAM-Ṣaṭka chapter hub for Sāṅkhya YogaBG 3 · Karma YogaTVAM-Ṣaṭka chapter hub for Karma YogaBG 4 · Jñāna-Karma-SannyāsaTVAM-Ṣaṭka chapter hub for Jñāna-Karma-SannyāsaBG 5 · Karma-Sannyāsa YogaTVAM-Ṣaṭka chapter hub for Karma-Sannyāsa YogaBG 6 · Dhyāna YogaTVAM-Ṣaṭka chapter hub for Dhyāna YogaBG 7 · Krishna-Tattva (Jñāna-Vijñāna)TAT-Ṣaṭka chapter hub for Krishna-Tattva (Jñāna-Vijñāna)BG 8 · Akṣara-Brahma YogaTAT-Ṣaṭka chapter hub for Akṣara-Brahma YogaBG 9 · Rāja-Vidyā Rāja-GuhyaTAT-Ṣaṭka chapter hub for Rāja-Vidyā Rāja-GuhyaBG 10 · Vibhūti YogaTAT-Ṣaṭka chapter hub for Vibhūti YogaBG 11 · Viśvarūpa-Darśana YogaTAT-Ṣaṭka chapter hub for Viśvarūpa-Darśana YogaBG 12 · Bhakti YogaTAT-Ṣaṭka chapter hub for Bhakti YogaBG 13 · Kṣetra-Kṣetrajña YogaANTYA-Ṣaṭka chapter hub for Kṣetra-Kṣetrajña YogaBG 14 · Guṇa-Traya-VibhāgaANTYA-Ṣaṭka chapter hub for Guṇa-Traya-VibhāgaBG 15 · Puruṣottama YogaANTYA-Ṣaṭka chapter hub for Puruṣottama YogaBG 16 · Daivāsura-Sampad-VibhāgaANTYA-Ṣaṭka chapter hub for Daivāsura-Sampad-VibhāgaBG 18 · Mokṣa-Sannyāsa Yoga (Carama-Śloka)ANTYA-Ṣaṭka chapter hub for Mokṣa-Sannyāsa Yoga (Carama-Śloka)BG 2.47niṣkāma-karma-yoga action disciplineBG 4.34praṇipāta · paripraśna · sevā before tattva-darśī teachersBG 7.7mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat · no source higher than KrishnaBG 9.17Krishna as father, mother, supporter, and grandfatherBG 10.30Krishna as Time among reckonersBG 13.23Paramātmā as witness, permitter, supporter, enjoyer, and LordBG 15.15Krishna seated in every heart as memory, knowledge, and forgetfulnessBG 18.61Īśvara situated in the heart of all beingsBG 18.66Carama-Śloka surrender discipline and final refuge/vishwaroopa-darshanaall 18 Gītā chapters rendered as one chart-aware darśana/vishvarupa-chartBG 11 chart-as-Viśvarūpa-darśana aperture/bija-sutrasfounder-curated bīja-pada exposition layer inside selected Gītā verse pages/binduDiamond of Darśanas frame for Gītā source recognition/philosophyKrishna = Paramaatma = Parabrahman constitutional foundation/llms.txtbrief AI-agent source map/llms-full.txtcomprehensive AI-agent access map
📚 Cite this verse · Academic citation formats
APA: Vyāsa Maharṣi. (n.d.). Bhagavad-Gītā 17.13. Vidhyāmitra. Retrieved 2026-07-28, from https://vidhyamitra.com/bhagavad-gita/17/13
Chicago: Vyāsa Maharṣi. "Bhagavad-Gītā 17.13." Vidhyāmitra. Accessed 2026-07-28. https://vidhyamitra.com/bhagavad-gita/17/13.
MLA: Vyāsa Maharṣi. "Bhagavad-Gītā 17.13." Vidhyāmitra, 2026, https://vidhyamitra.com/bhagavad-gita/17/13.
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सर्वम् कृष्णार्पणम् — this verse is one maṇi (jewel) on Krishna's thread (BG 7.7)