Chapter 3: Karma Yoga – Transforming All Activities into Yoga: Verse 13
यज्ञशिष्टाशिन: सन्तो मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषै: ।
भुञ्जते ते त्वघं पापा ये पचन्त्यात्मकारणात् ।।
yajña-śiṣṭāśina: santo mucyante sarva-kilbiṣai:
bhuñjate te tvaghaṃ pāpā ye pacanty-ātma-kāraṇāt – 3.13
The noble ones who partake of the left over from Yajña are freed of all their dross and vice. Those who cook and eat only for themselves indeed eat sin.
Chapter 3: Karma Yoga – Transforming All Activities into Yoga - Verse 13
Swami Nirviseshananda Tirtha
Yajña is something extremely sublime. It has to be given the first place in our life, activities and performance. Invoking the best devotional thoughts and feelings are the materials for Yajña collected, processed and offered. Something is generally left over, to be availed of as a token of benediction, instilling purity and divinity to one’s life. Yajña ranks supreme in administering and generating purity and refinement.
To disregard the concept of and need for Yajña, to live a blind selfish life, refusing to think of any inner, higher values, makes life totally sinful. One given to it, virtually eats sin, points Krishna. The praise and condemnation are alike strong, penetrating.
The fundamental lesson is that disregard for noble values makes life sinful and vicious in every way. Value in any field is non-negotiable. Its place and importance are paramount.
