Shloka 12
Abhimanyu’s Assault on Bhīṣma’s Screen; Banner-Felling and Reinforcements (सौभद्र-भीष्म-समरः)
जो शास्त्रविधिसे नियत, यज्ञ करना ही कर्तव्य है--इस प्रकार मनको समाधान करके, फल न चाहनेवाले पुरुषोंद्वारा किया जाता है, वह सात्तविक है ।।
abhisaṃdhāya tu phalaṃ dambhārtham api caiva yat | ijyate bharataśreṣṭha taṃ yajñaṃ viddhi rājasam ||
फलाभिसन्धिं दम्भार्थं च मनसि निधाय य इज्यते यज्ञः—भरतश्रेष्ठ—तं यज्ञं राजसं विद्धि।
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A sacrifice is judged not only by correct performance but by intention: when it is done for reward (phala) or for show (dambha), it becomes rājasa—driven by desire and ego—rather than a pure act of duty.
In the Bhīṣma Parva’s instructional setting, a teaching is being given to Arjuna distinguishing types of sacrifice by the three guṇas; this verse identifies the rājasa sacrifice as one motivated by results and ostentation.