Chapter 3, Verse 13
Karma Yoga — Sanskrit shloka, transliteration, word meanings, English translation, and commentary.
Original Sanskrit verse
Transliteration
Word meanings
yajña-śhiṣhṭa—of remnants of food offered in sacrifice; aśhinaḥ—eaters; santaḥ—saintly persons; muchyante—are released; sarva—all kinds of; kilbiṣhaiḥ—from sins; bhuñjate—enjoy; te—they; tu—but; agham—sins; pāpāḥ—sinners; ye—who; pachanti—cook (food); ātma-kāraṇāt—for their own sake
English translation
The righteous who eat the remnants of the sacrifice are freed from all sins; but those sinful ones who cook food solely for their own sake indeed consume sin.
— Swami Sivananda
Listen to Shloka 3.13
Commentary
Those who; after performing the five great sacrifices; eat the remnants of the food are freed from all the sins committed by these five agents of insect slaughter; viz.; (1) the pestle and mortar; (2) the grinding stone; (3) the fireplace; (4) the place where the waterpot is kept; and (5) the broom. These are the five places where injury to life is daily committed. The sins are washed away by the performance of the five MahaYajnas or great sacrifices which every Dvija(twicorn or the people belonging to the first three castes in Hindu society; especially the Brahmin) ought to perform1. DevaYajna Offering sacrifices to the gods which will satisfy them; 2. BrahmaYajna or RishiYajna Teaching and reciting the scriptures which will satisfy Brahman and the Rishis; 3. PitriYajna Offering libations of water to ones ancestors which will satisfy the manes; 4. NriYajna The feeding of the hungry and the guests; and; 5. BhutaYajna The feeding of the subhuman species; such as animals; birds; etc.
Commentary by Swami Sivananda
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