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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16 Verse 17 (16.17)

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16 Verse 17 (16.17)

आत्मसम्भाविताः स्तब्धा धनमानमदान्विताः । यजन्ते नामयज्ञैस्ते दम्भेनाविधिपूर्वकम् | | १६-१७ | |

ātmasambhāvitāḥ stabdhā dhanamānamadānvitāḥ yajante nāmayajñaiste dambhenāvidhipūrvakam

Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
  • आत्मसम्भाविताः (atma-sambhavitah) — अपने को बड़ा मानने वाले(self-conceited)
  • स्तब्धाः (stabdhah) — हठी(stubborn)
  • da joined in dhanamānamadānvitāḥ
  • (na) — नहीं(not)
  • मनः (manah) — मन(mind)
  • माम् (mam) — मुझको(Me)
  • danv joined in dhanamānamadānvitāḥ
  • इति (iti) — इस प्रकार(thus)
  • ah joined in dhanamānamadānvitāḥ
Line 2:
  • यजन्ते (yajante) — पूजा करते हैं(they perform worship)
  • नामयज्ञैः (nama-yajnaiste) — नाम मात्र के यज्ञों से(sacrifices in name only)
  • danben joined in dambhenāvidhipūrvakam
  • अविधिपूर्वकम् (avidhi-purvakam) — विधि के बिना(without following scriptural rules)

English: self-conceited, stubborn, rich, proud and insolent, they make a display of their patronage, disregarding the rules of decency.

💡 Commentary Note

Self-conceited, obstinate, filled with the pride and madness of wealth, they perform sacrifices (Yajna) in name only, out of vanity, without following scriptural rules.

Learnings from Shloka 17:
  • Obstinacy and Pride:: A proud mind is unteachable, refusing to accept wise advice or guidelines of Dharma.
  • Empty Rituals:: Actions done without sincerity or proper rules do not purify the heart.

Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz

Practice this shloka vocabulary

Match Sanskrit words from shloka 16.17 with their Hindi and English meanings.

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