yajna-shishtabhojan-mantraprasadabhagavad-gita

Yajna Shishtashinah Santo — Prasada Verse (Gita 3.13)

Yajna Shishtashinah Santo — Prasada Verse (Gita 3.13) in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Before meals, after offering the food as naivedya to God·📜 Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 3, Verse 13

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

In this verse of the Bhagavad Gita (3.13), Sri Krishna teaches that the righteous who eat yajna-shishta — food that has first been offered in sacrifice to God — are freed from all sins, while those who cook only for themselves, without offering, partake of sin. It is the scriptural basis for the Hindu practice of taking food only after offering it as naivedya, so that the meal becomes prasada. The verse is recited at mealtime as a reminder to eat consecrated food in a spirit of sacrifice.

Origin & Story

Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 3, Verse 13 · Veda Vyasa (words of Sri Krishna) · Ancient (Mahabharata / Bhagavad Gita)

In the third chapter of the Gita, on the path of selfless action, Sri Krishna explains the cycle of yajna by which the world is sustained. In this verse He declares that the good, who eat only what remains after offering to the Divine, are released from all sins, while those who cook for themselves alone consume sin. From this teaching arises the cherished Hindu custom of offering every meal to God as naivedya and partaking of it as prasada, so that eating itself becomes a sacrifice and a means of purification.

✦ As told in scripture

It is said that one who never eats without first offering the food, taking only the sanctified remnants as prasada, is gradually freed from the bondage of all sin — for such a person no longer eats merely for the body, but partakes of the grace of the Lord with every morsel.

0all time

The Mantra

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

Yajna-shishtashinah santo muchyante sarva-kilbishaih Bhunjate te tv-agham papa ye pachanty-atma-karanat

Meaning:The righteous who eat the remnants of sacrifice (food first offered to God) are freed from all sins; but those wicked ones who cook only for their own sake verily eat sin.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

yajna-shishta🔊the remnants of sacrifice; food consecrated by being first offered (prasada)

ashinah🔊those who eat

santah🔊the good, the righteous

muchyante🔊are freed, are released

sarva-kilbishaih🔊from all sins / impurities

bhunjate🔊they eat / consume

te tu🔊but they (on the other hand)

agham🔊sin, impurity (verily eat sin)

papah🔊the sinful ones

ye pachanti🔊who cook / prepare

atma-karanat🔊for their own sake alone (selfishly, without offering)

Benefits of Chanting Yajna Shishtashinah Santo — Prasada Verse (Gita 3.13)

✦

A Bhagavad Gita verse (3.13) recited at mealtime, establishing the practice of eating only food first offered to God (prasada).

✦

Promises freedom from all sins (sarva-kilbisha) for those who partake of consecrated food in a spirit of sacrifice.

✦

Turns ordinary eating into yajna — a sacred act — and discourages eating selfishly without offering.

✦

Encourages sharing, offering and gratitude before partaking of food.

✦

Often recited together with Brahmarpanam and Aham Vaishvanaro Bhutva as part of the grace before meals.

✦

Instils the understanding that food should nourish dharma, not merely the body.

How to Chant Yajna Shishtashinah Santo — Prasada Verse (Gita 3.13)

Repetitions1times

Best TimeBefore meals, after offering the food as naivedya to God

FaceFacing the food / the deity

First offer the prepared food to God as naivedya, then recite this verse before eating, remembering that you are partaking of yajna-shishta — sacred remnants of the offering — as prasada. Eat with gratitude, in moderation, and ideally share the food with others before taking your own portion.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Yajna Shishtashinah Santo — Prasada Verse (Gita 3.13) written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It is verse 3.13 of the Bhagavad Gita, spoken by Lord Krishna in the chapter on Karma Yoga. It explains why Hindus offer food to God before eating it as prasada.

Yajna-shishta means 'the remnants of sacrifice' — food that has first been offered to God (as naivedya) and then taken as prasada. Eating such consecrated food is said to free one from sin, whereas cooking and eating only for oneself, without offering, brings impurity.

It is the basis of the daily practice of offering food to the Divine before eating. Many recite it at mealtime, alongside Brahmarpanam (Gita 4.24) and Aham Vaishvanaro Bhutva (Gita 15.14), to eat in a sacrificial, grateful spirit.