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← Chapter 4: The Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation of Action

Verse 4.31

Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit

नायं लोकोऽस्त्ययज्ञस्य कुतोऽन्यः कुरुसत्तम।।

Transliteration (IAST)

nāyaṁ loko 'sty ayajñasya kuto 'nyaḥ kuru-sattama

Word-by-Word Meanings

na-not
ayam-this
lokaḥ-world
ayajñasya-for one who performs no sacrifice
kutaḥ-how/where
anyaḥ-the other (world)

Translation

O best of the Kuru dynasty, without sacrifice one can never live happily on this planet or in this life; what then of the next?

Commentary

Krishna declares that sacrifice is essential for both worldly happiness and spiritual progress. One who performs no yajña cannot find fulfillment even in this world, let alone attain higher realms. This reinforces the universal necessity of the sacrificial attitude in all aspects of life.

Themes

karmadharmayoga