अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते |
यष्टव्यमेवेति मन: समाधाय स सात्त्विक: || 11||
aphalākāṅkṣhibhir yajño vidhi-driṣhṭo ya ijyate
yaṣhṭavyam eveti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ
aphala-ākāṅkṣhibhiḥ—without expectation of any reward; yajñaḥ—sacrifice; vidhi-driṣhṭaḥ—that is in accordance with the scriptural injunctions; yaḥ—which; ijyate—is performed; yaṣhṭavyam-eva-iti—ought to be offered; manaḥ—mind; samādhāya—with conviction; saḥ—that; sāttvikaḥ—of the nature of goodness
Translation:
That sacrifice is of the nature of sattva which is offered according to the scriptural rules by those who expect no reward and who firmly believe that it is their duty to sacrifice.
Commentary:
The Lord has already laid down the law that the Sastras are the authority about what ought to be done or what ought not to be done. Therefore it is said here that the Yajna should be ‘vidhidrishtah‘. Moreover it should be decided after deep consideration whether to perform the sacrifice or not, according to time, place and other circumstances. Above all this, it should be performed without any selfish motive. It should be an act of Nishkama karmayoga. Such Yagna is called Sattvic. Here the word ‘Yajna’ does not mean sacrifice of animals and other living beings. It refers to all charitable and beneficient acts of a divine character. Any good done in that spirit becomes a Yajna.
Manah samadhaya: It is imperative that the act to be performed should be carefully considered, decided, and fixed before doing it. Otherwise, the wavering mind creates hundred doubts and fears at the time of performing it. Such actions do not bear any good fruit at all. They are sometimes half done and left incomplete. The doer gains no peace or satisfaction from such works. So one should consider the pros and cons, satisfy himself about the Sastraic laws, take the advice of the elders and well-wishers, and then only go into action. Such work is Sattvic and yields the best door to rewards to the doer and to the world. The point is that there should not be any longing to taste the fruits of work. They should be offered to the Lord. Such work is the highest and the noblest.
THE AUSTERITY OF A BRĀHMAṆA
Traditionally too there were those who undertook spiritual practices simply by following Vedic injunctions and without expectation of reward. In our village, there lived a scholarly ghanapāṭhi, a Vedic scholar. He was very poor and also had a large family to support, yet he was always peaceful. From morning four o’clock till night, he could be seen doing Vedic rituals, meditations and readings. This is similar to the story of Kuchela. One day one of his friends asked him, “Why do you do all this all day long? Why not take up a job to make some money?” He replied, “I cannot be otherwise. The śāstras have said that this is the way a Brahmin must live; my father too has advised the same thing, and I am just doing as they say. For me, this way of life is a worship, an offering to the Lord.”
ब्राह्मणस्य हि देहोऽयं क्षुद्रकामाय नेष्यते।
कृच्छ्राय तपसे चेह प्रेत्यानन्तसुखाय च॥ SB 11.17.42
A Brahmin’s body is not for petty pleasures. The body must be trained to go through intense austerity in order to experience the infinite bliss, here and hereafter.
(Source: Srimad Bhagavad Gita – Elixir of Eternal Wisdom | Vol 3)
Question: What is the nature of the Sattvic Yajna?
Answer: It is performed without desire for the fruit. It is performed according to the ordinances of the Scriptures. It is well-considered and clearly decided by the mind.