Bhagavad-gītā 17.13
Read once with your eyes. Read again aloud.
विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम्।श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते।।17.13।।
vidhi-hīnam asṛiṣhṭānnaṁ mantra-hīnam adakṣhiṇam śhraddhā-virahitaṁ yajñaṁ tāmasaṁ parichakṣhate
The Yajna performed without heed to ordinance, in which no food is distributed, which is devoid of Mantras, gifts, and Shraddhâ, is said to be Tâmasika.
English rendering by Swami Swarupananda. Public domain first edition, 1909.
Build the sentence from its parts
Read across once, then cover the meanings and recover them from the Sanskrit forms.
| Sanskrit form | Meaning here |
|---|---|
| vidhi-hīnam | without scriptural direction |
| asṛiṣhṭa-annam | without distribution of prasādam |
| mantra-hīnam | with no chanting of the Vedic hymns |
| adakṣhiṇam | with no remunerations to the priests |
| śhraddhā | faith |
| virahitam | without |
| yajñam | sacrifice |
| tāmasam | in the mode of ignorance |
| parichakṣhate | is to be considered |
Use the word map to follow the relation among vidhi-hīnam (without scriptural direction), śhraddhā (faith), and parichakṣhate (is to be considered). Ask what changes between the first and last term, and how that movement contributes to faith expressed through daily choices. State the connection in your own words, then check it against Bhagavad-gita 17.13.
Original school explanation. Written independently from the Sanskrit word map. It is not a quotation, translation, or summary of a named modern commentary. Chapter lens: Trace how faith, worship, food, sacrifice, austerity and gift are described under the three guṇas.
Five careful reading routes
The cards below are reading references, not claims about what an acharya says in this verse. Modern wording stays inside authorized editions. Classical commentary will appear only after an independent translation has passed scholarly and rights review.
Meaning map
Follow the thought
- 1
The Yajna performed without heed to ordinance, in which no food is distributed, which is devoid of Mantras, gifts
- 2
Shraddhâ, is said to be Tâmasika
- 3
vidhi-hīnam: without scriptural direction
Look, link, cover, teach
Look
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Link
Use the line starts: vidhi-hīnam asṛiṣhṭānnaṁ / śhraddhā-virahitaṁ yajñaṁ.
Cover
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Teach
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A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Bhagavad-gita As It IsFor Bhagavad-gita 17.13, consult the authorized BBT edition. No purport, translation, or author-attributed summary is reproduced here.
Find the authorized editionBhaktivinoda Thakura
Rasika-ranjanaA verified independent rendering for Bhagavad-gita 17.13 has not yet passed scholarly and rights review. Modern translations are not copied here.
Independent rendering pending reviewBaladeva Vidyabhushana
Gita-bhushana-bhashyaThe original work is classical. A newly commissioned or independently prepared translation for Bhagavad-gita 17.13 must be verified before publication.
Independent translation pending reviewVishvanatha Cakravarti Thakura
Sarartha-varshini-tikaThe original work is classical. A newly commissioned or independently prepared translation for Bhagavad-gita 17.13 must be verified before publication.
Independent translation pending reviewOther Gaudiya acharyas
Authorized Gaudiya editionsFor Bhagavad-gita 17.13, later teachers remain a further-reading route. Their wording and distinctive teaching structures require permission or a separate rights review.
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