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← Chapter 3: The Yoga of Action

Verse 3.14

Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit

अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः। यज्ञाद्भवति पर्जन्यो यज्ञः कर्मसमुद्भवः।।

Transliteration (IAST)

annād bhavanti bhūtāni parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ | yajñād bhavati parjanyo yajñaḥ karma-samudbhavaḥ ||

Word-by-Word Meanings

अन्नात्-from food
भूतानि-living beings
पर्जन्यात्-from rain
यज्ञात्-from sacrifice
कर्मसमुद्भवः-born of action

Translation

All living beings subsist on food, food is produced by rain, rain comes from sacrifice, and sacrifice is born of action.

Commentary

Krishna describes the cosmic cycle connecting action, sacrifice, rain, food, and life. This ecological chain demonstrates how individual duty sustains the entire web of existence. Breaking this cycle through inaction or selfishness disrupts the natural order.

Themes

dharmakarmaduty