Gita 17.13
Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga
विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम् | श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते ||१३||
vidhi-hīnam asṛṣṭānnaṁ mantra-hīnam adakṣiṇam | śraddhā-virahitaṁ yajñaṁ tāmasaṁ paricakṣate ||13||
In essence: Tamasic sacrifice is devoid of proper procedure, distribution of food, mantras, proper gifts, and faith - it is mechanical ritual without life or meaning.
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "I sometimes perform rituals out of habit, without much feeling. Is that tamasic?"
Guru: "If it's truly empty of all faith and care, yes. But often beneath the surface dryness, faith remains - you wouldn't continue at all without some faith. The teaching is a warning: don't let practice become mere habit. When you notice going through motions, pause. Reconnect with why you're practicing. Even a moment of genuine faith transforms dead ritual into living worship."
Sadhak: "What if I don't know the proper procedures or mantras?"
Guru: "Sincere faith with imperfect form is far superior to perfect form without faith. The verse condemns the combination: improper form AND absent faith. If you lack knowledge but have sincere heart, seek guidance while continuing to practice with love. Your faith will draw the right teaching to you. Better imperfect worship with faith than perfect ritual without it."
Sadhak: "Is it better to not worship than to worship tamasically?"
Guru: "Even tamasic worship maintains some connection to the sacred - a thread that might be revived. Complete absence of practice often leads to complete forgetting. But the teaching is a call to upgrade, not to abandon. If you recognize tamasic patterns in your practice, that recognition itself is a sign of awakening sattva. Use it: bring care, attention, and faith to your practice. Transform it rather than abandoning it."
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🌅 Daily Practice
Before beginning practice, pause to consciously invoke faith. Even if feelings are dry, affirm: 'I believe this practice connects me to the sacred. I offer it with whatever faith I have.' This conscious affirmation prevents practice from becoming mere routine.
Observe 'tamasic' patterns in daily activities: work done carelessly, without full engagement, going through motions without heart. These patterns in daily life often mirror our spiritual practice. Bringing care and presence to ordinary activities builds the capacity for meaningful worship.
If you performed any ritual today, reflect: was it complete in form? Was it offered with faith? Where was it lacking? Set intention for tomorrow's practice to address the weakest element. If shraddha was low, focus on reconnecting with the purpose of practice. If form was sloppy, attend to details more carefully.