yajna-shishtabhojan-mantraprasadabhagavad-gita

𑌯𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌶𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌾𑌶𑌿𑌨𑌃 𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍋 — 𑌭𑍋𑌜𑌨 𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰

यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो — भोजन मन्त्र in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

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

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

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.

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The Mantra

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𑌯𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌶𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌾𑌶𑌿𑌨𑌃 𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍋 𑌮𑍁𑌚𑍍𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌕𑌿𑌲𑍍𑌬𑌿𑌷𑍈𑌃 । 𑌭𑍁𑌞𑍍𑌜𑌤𑍇 𑌤𑍇 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌘𑌂 𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌾 𑌯𑍇 𑌪𑌚𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌣𑌾𑌤𑍍 ॥

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

Meaning:जो सज्जन यज्ञ से शेष बचे (पहले भगवान को अर्पित किए हुए) अन्न को खाते हैं, वे सब पापों से मुक्त हो जाते हैं; परन्तु जो पापी केवल अपने लिए ही पकाते हैं, वे तो पाप ही खाते हैं।

Word-by-Word Meaning

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

𑌅𑌶𑌿𑌨𑌃🔊ashinahthose who eat

𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃🔊santahthe good, the righteous

𑌮𑍁𑌚𑍍𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍇🔊muchyanteare freed, are released

𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌕𑌿𑌲𑍍𑌬𑌿𑌷𑍈𑌃🔊sarva-kilbishaihfrom all sins / impurities

𑌭𑍁𑌞𑍍𑌜𑌤𑍇🔊bhunjatethey eat / consume

𑌤𑍇 𑌤𑍁🔊te tubut they (on the other hand)

𑌅𑌘𑌂🔊aghamsin, impurity (verily eat sin)

𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌾𑌃🔊papahthe sinful ones

𑌯𑍇 𑌪𑌚𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿🔊ye pachantiwho cook / prepare

𑌆𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌣𑌾𑌤𑍍🔊atma-karanatfor their own sake alone (selfishly, without offering)

Benefits of Chanting यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो — भोजन मन्त्र

✦

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 यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो — भोजन मन्त्र

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 यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो — भोजन मन्त्र written in the Grantha 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.