Bhagavad Gita 17.12
Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga · English Translation
Sanskrit
अभिसन्धाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत् | इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम् ||१७-१२||
Transliteration
abhisandhāya tu phalaṃ dambhārthamapi caiva yat . ijyate bharataśreṣṭha taṃ yajñaṃ viddhi rājasam ||17-12||
The sacrifice which is offered, O Arjuna, seeking a reward and for ostentation, know thou that to be a Rajasic Yajna.
Word by Word
अभिसंधाय seeking for, तु indeed, फलम् fruit, दम्भार्थम् for ostentation, अपि also, च and, एव even, यत् which, इज्यते is offered, भरतश्रेष्ठ O best of the Bharatas, तम् that, यज्ञम् sacrifice, विद्धि know, राजसम् Rajasic
Classical Commentary
If anyone performs a sacrifice in order to obtain, heaven, son, wealth, or name and fame, then it is a sacrifice of a Rajasic nature. The performer of this kind of sacrifice has the motive of increasing his own importance, for popularising his own name in the world, for gaining some reward, for showing himself off as a great, pious and learned man, for making an exhibition of his riches for his own glorificaion. He has no aspiration for attaining the knowledge of the Self.