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विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम्।श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते।।17.13।।

vidhi-hīnam asṛiṣhṭānnaṁ mantra-hīnam adakṣhiṇam śhraddhā-virahitaṁ yajñaṁ tāmasaṁ parichakṣhate

Sanskrit Chant Recitation
Chapter 17, Verse 13
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Scripture Translation Room

Sanskrit to English Translation

Translator:
They declare that sacrifice to be Tamasic which is contrary to the ordinances of the scriptures, in which no food is distributed, and which is devoid of mantras, gifts, and faith.

A Reading - Rantideb

Why: that sacrifice which is contrary to scriptural injunction, without food distribution, without hymns, without gifts to priests, and devoid of faith, is said to be of ignorance, describing careless, hollow performance of ritual, done without real attention or care, as the marker of the dullest quality.

In life: going through the motions of an important practice or obligation carelessly, without real attention, care, or belief behind it, is a specific pattern of neglect worth naming directly rather than treating as equivalent to genuine, careful effort.

Teaching: the next time you're tempted to go through the motions of an important obligation carelessly, without real attention or care, recognize that pattern as meaningfully different from genuine effort, even if the box gets technically checked either way.

vidhi-hīnamwithout scriptural direction
asṛiṣhṭa-annamwithout distribution of prasādam
mantra-hīnamwith no chanting of the Vedic hymns
adakṣhiṇamwith no remunerations to the priests
śhraddhāfaith
virahitamwithout
yajñamsacrifice
tāmasamin the mode of ignorance
parichakṣhateis to be considered

Deep Classical Commentary (Bhashya)

Author:
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.