आत्मसम्भाविताः स्तब्धा धनमानमदान्विताः । यजन्ते नामयज्ञैस् ते दम्भेनाविधिपूर्वकम् ॥
ātma-sambhāvitāḥ stabdhā dhana-māna-madānvitāḥ | yajante nāma-yajñais te dambhenāvidhi-pūrvakam ||
Self-complacent, stubborn, wealth-proud — they perform name-only sacrifices, ostentatiously ignoring śāstric ordinance.
Word by word (3)
- ātma-sambhāvitāḥ stabdhāḥ
- — self-complacent/self-honoring (ātma-sambhāvitāḥ), stubborn/arrogant (stabdhāḥ) — the two inner postures of ego-saturation
- dhana-māna-madānvitāḥ
- — filled with (anvitāḥ) the pride (māna) and intoxication (mada) of wealth (dhana) — wealth becomes the fuel for ego-amplification
- yajante nāma-yajñais te dambhenāvidhi-pūrvakam
- — they perform sacrifices (yajante) with sacrifices in name only (nāma-yajñaiḥ), with ostentation/hypocrisy (dambhena), against scriptural ordinance (avidhi-pūrvakam)
Self-complacent, stubborn, full of the pride and intoxication of wealth, they perform what are sacrifices in name only — ostentatiously, against prescribed ordinance.
A modern analogy
A chef who doesn't taste the food while cooking, ignores the recipe, and only cares how the dish LOOKS on the plate — produces technically elaborate but actually inedible results. The āsurī's yajña looks like sacrifice but has no inner alignment (no śraddhā, no vidhi) — it is cuisine for social approval, not nourishment.
V17 shows the āsurī's religious behavior: even ritual observance is corrupted by ego. They DO perform yajña — but nāma-yajñais (sacrifices in name only) + dambhena (for display) + avidhi-pūrvakam (without proper procedure). This is the āsurī version of V15's 'yakṣye' (I will sacrifice) — the outer form of daivī practice with zero inner substance. This sets up V18's consequence: their ego-filled rituals lead to hating God.
The triple indictment (ātma-sambhāvitā, dambha, avidhi) maps to the three corruption vectors: (1) wrong inner orientation (ego as center), (2) wrong motivation (display), (3) wrong procedure (ignoring śāstra). Ch.17 will develop this theme further: the three-fold śraddhā — sāttvic, rājasic, tāmasic — corresponds to the difference between genuine and nāma-yajña.
Public-domain translations (4) compare all →
Self-honored, stubborn, filled with the pride and intoxication of wealth, they perform sacrifices in name with hypocrisy, without regard to ordinance. [1]
Self-conceited, haughty, filled with the pride and intoxication of wealth, they perform sacrifices in name, out of ostentation, disregarding ordinance; [4]
Honoured only by themselves, void of humility, and full of the pride and frenzy of wealth, these calumniators perform sacrifices which are sacrifices only in name, with ostentatiousness and against prescribed rules. [9]
Self-complacent, stubborn, filled with the pride and intoxication of wealth, they perform sacrifices that are nominally so, with hypocrisy and against the prescribed ordinance. [13]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
The ego-apex: 'I am rich, well-born — who equals me? I'll sacrifice, give, rejoice.' — all deluded by ajñāna.
The ego-monologue: 'I gained this today. I'll get that next. This is mine — and more wealth will be mine too.'
Even if the most sinful worships Me with undivided devotion — he must be deemed righteous, for he has rightly resolved.
One with no ego-doer-sense, whose buddhi is untainted — even while killing all these beings, kills not, is not bound.
Approach the teacher with prostration, inquiry, and service. The knowers of truth will instruct you in jñāna.
Non-injury, equanimity, contentment, austerity, charity, fame and infamy — these varied states arise from Me alone.