Chapter 16, Verse 17 (Bhagavad Gita 16.17)
Chapter 16: Daivāsura Sampad Vibhāg Yog – Yoga through Discerning the Divine and Demoniac Natures
Sanskrit Shloka
आत्मसम्भाविताः स्तब्धा धनमानमदान्विताः।यजन्ते नामयज्ञैस्ते दम्भेनाविधिपूर्वकम्
Transliteration
ātma-sambhāvitāḥ stabdhā dhana-māna-madānvitāḥ yajante nāma-yajñais te dambhenāvidhi-pūrvakam
Word Meanings
ātma-sambhāvitāḥ—self-conceited; stabdhāḥ—stubborn; dhana—wealth; māna—pride; mada—arrogance; anvitāḥ—full of; yajante—perform sacrifice; nāma—in name only; yajñaiḥ—sacrifices; te—they; dambhena—ostentatiously; avidhi-pūrvakam—with no regards to the rules of the scriptures
Translation
Self-conceited, stubborn, filled with the pride and intoxication of wealth, they perform sacrifices in name only for the sake of ostentation, contrary to the ordinances of the scriptures.
Meaning & Commentary
In this verse, Bhagwan Shri Krishna reveals the deceptive nature of the demoniac mentality, where external religious observances are reduced to mere theatre. The Supreme Lord cautions Arjuna that acts performed for egoistic display rather than as an offering to the Divine disconnect the soul from the path of liberation. When wealth and pride become the driving forces of one's actions, the sacredness of sacrifice is lost, leaving only a hollow ritual devoid of spiritual merit. Shri Krishna teaches that true righteousness requires the surrender of the ego, as He alone is the true enjoyer of all sacrifices. By exposing these hypocrisies, the Lord guides the seeker toward authentic devotion and inner purification, which are essential for attaining His eternal abode.