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← Chapter 3: The Yoga of Action

Verse 3.10

Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit

सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा पुरोवाच प्रजापतिः। अनेन प्रसविष्यध्वमेष वोऽस्त्विष्टकामधुक्।।

Transliteration (IAST)

saha-yajñāḥ prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā purovāca prajāpatiḥ | anena prasaviṣyadhvam eṣa vo 'stv iṣṭa-kāma-dhuk ||

Word-by-Word Meanings

सहयज्ञाः-along with sacrifice
प्रजाः-beings/people
सृष्ट्वा-having created
प्रजापतिः-the Creator
प्रसविष्यध्वम्-may you prosper
कामधुक्-wish-fulfilling

Translation

In the beginning, the Creator created humankind together with sacrifice and said: By this shall you prosper; let this be the wish-fulfilling cow for you.

Commentary

Krishna invokes the cosmic order established at creation. Sacrifice (yajna) is woven into the fabric of existence - it is the principle of mutual giving that sustains all life. Prajapati's instruction establishes that prosperity comes through selfless contribution, not selfish accumulation.

Themes

dharmakarmaduty