टीका

Commentary

Having classified food according to the three modes, Krishna now turns to sacrifice (yajna). Sacrifice in the Vedic context encompasses all forms of worship and ritualistic offerings, from elaborate fire ceremonies to simple daily worship and prayer.

A sattvic sacrifice has three essential characteristics. First, it is vidhi-dishtah — performed according to scriptural direction, not invented by the performer. Second, it is aphala-akaankshbhih — performed by those who desire no personal reward. Third, it is done with the conviction yashtavyam eva — “this must be done as a matter of duty.”

Generally, sacrifice is performed for some purpose. But here Krishna says that sacrifice should be performed without any desire for the fruit. It should be understood as a duty and performed accordingly. For example, worship performed in temples and churches is generally for material benefit. But that is not sattvic. One should go to the temple or church as a matter of duty, offer one’s respects to the Lord, and present flowers and prasada. Merely going to a temple for economic benefit is not recommended in the scriptures.

One should think of worship as a duty — kartavya, something that must be done as one’s righteous obligation. This mental attitude of selfless duty transforms an ordinary ritual into a sattvic sacrifice. When the mind is fixed (samaadhaaya) on the understanding that this is simply the right thing to do, without calculating personal benefit, the sacrifice purifies the heart and pleases the Lord.