yajña

यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः

yajña-arthāt — for the sake of sacrifice

Action other than that offered as sacrifice binds the world. So do your work as an offering, son of Kunti, free of attachment.

इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः

yajña-bhāvitāḥ — satisfied by sacrifice

Nourished by sacrifice, the gods will give you what you need. But one who enjoys their gifts without offering anything back is a thief.

यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषैः

yajña-śhiṣhṭa — of remnants of food offered in sacrifice

The good, who eat what is left after the offering, are released from every fault. Those who cook only for themselves eat their own wrongdoing.

दैवमेवापरे यज्ञं योगिनः पर्युपासते

yajñam — sacrifice

Some who practise offer sacrifice to the gods; others offer sacrifice itself into the fire of Brahman.

अपाने जुह्वति प्राण प्राणेऽपानं तथाऽपरे

yajña-vidaḥ — knowers of sacrifices

Others offer the outgoing breath into the incoming, and the incoming into the outgoing, holding both still, intent on the breath.

अपरे नियताहाराः प्राणान्प्राणेषु जुह्वति

yajñavidaḥ — conversant with the purpose of performing

Others eat sparingly and offer breath into breath. All of these know what an offering is, and their wrongs are consumed by it.

यज्ञशिष्टामृतभुजो यान्ति ब्रह्म सनातनम्

yajña-śhiṣhṭa amṛita-bhujaḥ — they partake of the nectarean remnants of sacrifice

Those who eat what remains of the offering go to the eternal. But for one who makes no offering there is no place, either here or beyond.

भोक्तारं यज्ञतपसां सर्वलोकमहेश्वरम्

yajña — sacrifices

Knowing me as the one who receives every offering and austerity, the great lord of all worlds, and the friend of all beings — one comes to peace.

अभिसंधाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत्

yajñam — sacrifice

But an offering made looking to its fruit, or for the sake of show — know that to be of restlessness.

विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम्

yajñam — sacrifice

An offering made against what is directed, with no food distributed, without the sacred words, without gifts and without faith, is held to be of inertia.

तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः

yajña — sacrifice

So those who speak of Brahman always begin the acts of offering, giving and austerity with the utterance of Om, as the scriptures direct.

तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः

yajña — sacrifice

With Tat, and without desiring the fruit, the various acts of offering, austerity and giving are performed by those who seek release.

त्याज्यं दोषवदित्येके कर्म प्राहुर्मनीषिणः

yajña — sacrifice

Some learned people say action should be given up as a fault; others, that offering, giving and austerity should not be given up.

यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यं कार्यमेव तत्

yajña — sacrifice

The acts of offering, giving and austerity should not be given up; they should be done. To give them up is a mistake.