Bhagavad-gītā As it Is << 17 - The Divisions of Faith >>
<< VERSE 11 >>
अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर यज्ञॊ विधिदृष्टॊ य इज्यते यष्टव्यम एवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः
aphalākāṅkṣibhir yajño vidhi-diṣṭo ya ijyate yaṣṭavyam eveti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ
WORD BY WORD
aphala-ākāṅkṣibhiḥ by those devoid of desire for result; yajñaḥ sacrifice; vidhi-diṣṭaḥ according to the direction of scripture; yaḥ which; ijyate is performed; yaṣṭavyam must be performed; eva certainly; iti thus; manaḥ mind; samādhāya fixing; saḥ it; sāttvikaḥ in the mode of goodness;
TRANSLATION
| Of sacrifices, the sacrifice performed according to the directions of scripture, as a matter of duty, by those who desire no reward, is of the nature of goodness.
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PURPORT
| The general tendency is to offer sacrifice with some purpose in mind, but here it is stated that sacrifice should be performed without any such desire. It should be done as a matter of duty. Take, for example, the performance of rituals in temples or in churches. Generally they are performed with the purpose of material benefit, but that is not in the mode of goodness. One should go to a temple or church as a matter of duty, offer respect to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and offer flowers and eatables without any purpose of obtaining material benefit. Everyone thinks that there is no use in going to the temple just to worship God. But worship for economic benefit is not recommended in the scriptural injunctions. One should go simply to offer respect to the Deity. That will place one in the mode of goodness. It is the duty of every civilized man to obey the injunctions of the scriptures and offer respect to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
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