Bhagavad Gita 16.17 meaningTwo kinds of character
In simple wordsSo simple a child gets it
“They pray only to show off.”
What it means
“Full of self-importance, stubborn, drunk on wealth and pride, they perform rituals only for show, ignoring their real meaning.”
The original Sanskrit
आत्मसम्भाविताः स्तब्धा धनमानमदान्विताः । यजन्ते नामयज्ञैस्ते दम्भेनाविधिपूर्वकम् ॥
ātmasambhāvitāḥ stabdhā dhanamānamadānvitāḥ yajante nāmayajñaiste dambhenāvidhipūrvakam
Translations
Literal translation
Self-conceited, haughty, filled with pride and intoxication of wealth, they perform sacrifices which are so in name only, with ostentation and regardless of the injunctions.
Swami Gambhirananda
हिंदी अनुवाद
अपने आप को ही श्रेष्ठ मानने वाले, स्तब्ध (गर्वयुक्त), धन और मान के मद से युक्त लोग शास्त्रविधि से रहित केवल नामम ात्र के यज्ञों द्वारा दम्भपूर्वक यजन करते हैं।
Swami Tejomayananda
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Commentaries
How great teachers across 1,200 years have explained this verse.
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Keep reading · 16.18“Clinging to ego, power, arrogance, lust and anger, these resentful people despise me, who live in their bodies and in everyone else's.”