Chapter 17 · Verse 11 of 28
The Yoga of the Division of Three Types of Faith
श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोग
Meaning
Supreme God Krishna spoke
When a sacrificial fire-ceremony is performed according to the instructions of scriptures as an ordained duty, without craving the fruits or results, it is called a Noble (Sāttvic) yajna. (17:11)
Sanskrit
श्रीभगवान् उवाच
अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते ।
यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः॥
Word-by-word
अ-फल-आकाङ्क्षिभिः यज्ञः विधि-दृष्टः यः इज्यते,
यष्टव्यम् एव इति मनः समाधाय, सः सात्त्विकः।
Commentary
Yajna ordinarily or originally meant a sacrificial fire-ceremony in which oblations were poured into the holy fire to please gods. In the Vedic tradition, sometimes animals were also sacrificed in yajnas. However, the Lord in the Holy Gitā has redefined yajna in verses 4:23-28, pushing aside the word’s original meaning.