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Chapter 3 · Karma-yoga · 43 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Duty & actionChapter 3 · Karma-yoga

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 3.14

The cycle of sacrifice and duty

Karma · Action

अन्नाद्भ‍वन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः ।

यज्ञा‍द्भ‍‍वति पर्जन्यो यज्ञः कर्मसमुद्भ‍वः ॥ १४ ॥

annād bhavanti bhūtāni

parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ

yajñād bhavati parjanyo

yajñaḥ karma-samudbhavaḥ

Translation

All living bodies subsist on food grains, which are produced from rains. Rains are produced by performance of yajña [sacrifice], and yajña is born of prescribed duties.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Food, Sacrifice, and Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    All living bodies depend on food grains, grains on rain, rain on sacrifice, and sacrifice on prescribed duties.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that worshiping Kṛṣṇa also satisfies the demigods, who serve Him by managing material affairs.

  3. 3

    Offer food to Kṛṣṇa before eating. Accepting this food, called prasādam, removes past sinful reactions and protects against material contamination.

Key points from the purport

Cycle of sacrifice — Sacrifice brings rains which nourishes the crop (food grains) which make living entities prosperous and happy

a

Why there is no need to worship demigods. Because:

Demigods are only the appointed officers for material management

Vedas give sacrifices to satisfy these demigods to achieve all material supplies

Satisfying Krishna satisfies all the demigods who are like different limbs of the body; therefore no separate need to worship the demigod

b

Analogy of Krishna consciousness and antiseptic immunity — Prasadam gives immunity from all material reactions, e.g. Antiseptic vaccine during epidemic

Conclusion – Krishna conscious sacrifice provides freedom from all past sins and immunizes against future reactions

c

Dangers of not accepting offered food –

Such a person continues to increase the volume of sinful action

Thus prepares the next body to resemble hogs and dogs to suffer the resultant actions

d

Role of Sankirtana-yajna even for supply of food and protection from scarcity

For all eatables we have to depend upon the production of fields which depends on rains

Rains are controlled by demigods who are servants of the Lord

And the Lord can be satisfied only by sacrifices

Sacrifice for this age – Sankirtana-yajna

Further reading

From Karma Kanda To Karma-Yoga

If one cannot perform detached, dutiful work; it is better to follow Karma-kanda section of Vedas

But do it for Krishna’s pleasure (All the Vedic duties which prescribe sacrifices, etc.)

Chapter 3, section III: From Karma Kanda To Karma-Yoga
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. annātfrom grains
  2. bhavantigrow
  3. bhūtānithe material bodies
  4. parjanyātfrom rains
  5. annaof food grains
  6. sambhavaḥproduction
  7. yajñātfrom the performance of sacrifice
  8. bhavatibecomes possible
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: karma, sva-dharma.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 3.14 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to duty & action?

Practice

Do one task today purely because it is right.

5

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 3 ›
6

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

Live this todayHuman Life Has a Higher PurposeA practice from BG 3.16, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.