अपरे नियताहारा: प्राणान्प्राणेषु जुह्वति |
सर्वेऽप्येते यज्ञविदो यज्ञक्षपितकल्मषा: || 30||
apare niyatāhārāḥ prāṇān prāṇeṣhu juhvati
sarve ’pyete yajña-vido yajña-kṣhapita-kalmaṣhāḥ
apare—others; niyata—having controlled; āhārāḥ—food intake; prāṇān—life-breaths; prāṇeṣhu—life-energy; juhvati—sacrifice; sarve—all; api—also; ete—these; yajña-vidaḥ—knowers of sacrifices; yajña-kṣhapita—being cleansed by performances of sacrifices; kalmaṣhāḥ—of impurities
Translation:
Others of regulated food, sacrifice the life – breaths in the life – breaths; all these also are are knowers of sacrifice whose sins are destroyed by sacrifice.
Commentary:
Thus far the Lord has explained twelve different types of yajnas. Of these, the last two are the regulation and control of food – habits. No one should commit the mistake of doubting what connection there is between food and spiritual attainment. Without fear of any exaggeration, it can be asserted that food is the first thing about which the seeker should be extremely careful. Otherwise, all his effort will come to naught. Over-eating or under-eating, eating at all odd times, in all places, all types of food from all kinds of persons, – all these should be carefully avoided. It is food that is turned into physical energy which in its turn is turned into mental energy that leads to spiritual illumination. Impure food not only unhinges the physical body but also irritates and provokes all kinds of undesirable humours which are detrimental to self-control. Some kinds of food like meat, garlic, and spices induce physical aberration like indulgence in sex and irritability of temper, cruelty in word and deed, and other discordant impulses. They are all obstacles to spiritual progress.
Just as a loose nut in a complicated machine brings it to a standstill, just as a train meets with disaster if one of the sleepers is taken off, even so the whole system of spiritual life is disrupted if care is not taken about food. If the food is pure, the mind is pure; if the mind is pure, liberation is attained. The Lord here mentions that regulation of food is also a yajna. There are five conditions to determine the quality of food (1) purity (2) moderation, (3) righteous earning, (4) offering to the Lord, and (5) timeliness.
The Lord has described various spiritual disciplines and each of them is given the sacred name of yajna. We understand that the old concept of yajna as a Vedic ritual accompanied by elaborate technique is given up, and a new significance is attached to other forms of discipline. Besides, it is here affirmed that all those who practise any of these disciplines are knowers of sacrifice (vajnavidah).
What then is the use of yajnas? It is the first and last method of purification. All the sins of the past and all the evil tendencies of the mind are destroyed by yajna. So it is imperative that the seeker should undertake some form of discipline and strive to attain purity which alone can lead him to Self realisation.
Question: What is the effect of performing yajna?
Answer: All sins are destroyed by yajna.
Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 4 🔻 (42 Verses)
