Chapter XVI · Śloka 17
आत्मसम्भाविताः स्तब्धा धनमानमदान्विताः ।
यजन्ते नामयज्ञैस्ते दम्भेनाविधिपूर्वकम् ॥
यजन्ते नामयज्ञैस्ते दम्भेनाविधिपूर्वकम् ॥
ātma-sambhāvitāḥ stabdhā dhana-māna-madānvitāḥ |
yajante nāma-yajñais te dambhenāvidhi-pūrvakam ||
yajante nāma-yajñais te dambhenāvidhi-pūrvakam ||
Self-conceited, stubborn, intoxicated with the pride of wealth and honour, they perform sacrifices in name only, with ostentation and without following proper injunctions.
The demoniac do not abandon religious form; they corrupt it. Their yajñas are nāma-yajña — sacrifices in name alone — performed for show rather than for the divine. Stubborn inflexibility (stabdhā) prevents them from receiving correction or guidance.