यज्ञशिष्टाशिन: सन्तो मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषै: |
भुञ्जते ते त्वघं पापा ये पचन्त्यात्मकारणात् || 13||
yajña-śhiṣhṭāśhinaḥ santo muchyante sarva-kilbiṣhaiḥ
bhuñjate te tvaghaṁ pāpā ye pachantyātma-kāraṇāt
yajña-śhiṣhṭa—of remnants of food offered in sacrifice; aśhinaḥ—eaters; santaḥ—saintly persons; muchyante—are released; sarva—all kinds of; kilbiṣhaiḥ—from sins; bhuñjate—enjoy; te—they; tu—but; agham—sins; pāpāḥ—sinners; ye—who; pachanti—cook (food); ātma-kāraṇāt—for their own sake
Translation:
The righteous who offer food to the Gods in sacrifice and eat the remnants are freed from all sins. But those who cook food to satisfy their own needs, are sinners and verily eat sin.
Commentary:
To cherish the Gods by offering food to them in sacrifice or to offer food to fellow mortals – the poor and hungry-and then to eat the remnants is an act of righteousness capable of destroying all sins. Not one or two sins, but all the horrible sins of man are cleansed by this act of divine or human offering. We understand from this what a powerful antidote yajna is to destroy all types of accumulated sins. Divine offering, compassionate relief given to suffering fellow-beings,-this is the best remedy to kill all sins. So it is said in the Esavasyopanishad –
“From what you have, give something as a sacrifice to the Gods or other fellow beings, and eat the remaining portion.”
The selfish who cooks and eats all to satisfy his own bodily needs is indeed eating not food, but sin! Such men accumulate sin They eat and digest sin and they become living embodiments Of sin. So it is clear that sacrifice leads to the highest good and selfishness leads to the worst sin and suffering. Such food not offered to the Gods or fellow beings is poison, though it is the richest and the most relishing. And that food sacrificed to Gods and offered to fellow beings is nectar though it is simple boiled rice and water.
According to Vedic traditions, man commits five kinds of sin each day by the use of (1) the broomstick, (2) the waterpot (3) the mortar and pestle, (4) the grinding stone, and (5) the oven. To eliminate these sins, the Pancha maha yajnas are prescribed. They are (1) Deva Yajna (2) Brahma Yajna (3) Pitri Yajna, (4) Nri Yajna and (5) Bhuta Yajna. The Vedic tradition has prescribed many types of yajnas to eliminate the sins committed in the course of innumerable births. The generalisation is that all sins would be cleared by sacrifice. All acts performed as worship of God or service to fellow beings not simply a man but animals, birds, and all lesser manifestations of life create a sinless state of purity that enables man to realise the spiritual aim.
Question: How does yajna help man?
Answer: By yajna, man is released from all sins.
Question: What is the effect of neglecting yajna?
Answer: The man who eats food without offering it to the Gods, verily eats sin.