Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 3 · Karma Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 3.12 इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः
श्लोक 3.12
इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः ।
तैर्दत्तानप्रदायैभ्यो यो भुङ्क्ते स्तेन एव सः ॥
iṣṭānbhogānhi vo devā dāsyante yajñabhāvitāḥ |
tairdattānapradāyaibhyo yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
यज्ञ से प्रसन्न होकर देवता तुम्हें मनचाहे भोग देंगे। उनके दिए हुए भोगों को जो उन्हें अर्पित किए बिना स्वयं भोगता है, वह निश्चय ही चोर है।
Meaning in English
Pleased by sacrifice, the gods will grant you the enjoyments you desire. But one who enjoys their gifts without offering anything back to them is nothing but a thief.
Bhagavad Gita 3.12 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| इष्टान् | iṣṭān | desired |
| भोगान् | bhogān | enjoyments, necessities |
| हि | hi | indeed |
| वः | vaḥ | to you |
| देवाः | devāḥ | the gods |
| दास्यन्ते | dāsyante | will give |
| यज्ञभाविताः | yajña-bhāvitāḥ | nourished by sacrifice |
| तैः | taiḥ | by them |
| दत्तान् | dattān | things given |
| अप्रदाय | apradāya | without offering |
| एभ्यः | ebhyaḥ | to them |
| यः | yaḥ | who |
| भुङ्क्ते | bhuṅkte | enjoys |
| स्तेनः | stenaḥ | a thief |
| एव | eva | certainly |
| सः | saḥ | he |
Explanation
Nourished by sacrifice, the gods will give you the enjoyments you desire. But one who enjoys what they give without offering anything back to them is indeed a thief.
Strong language: to consume without returning is theft. Traditional commentators take this as the duty to perform offerings and the daily five great sacrifices (pancha mahayajna) to gods, sages, ancestors, humans and other beings. Gandhi read it more broadly: one who eats without doing bread labour or service lives off others. The verse frames gratitude not as a feeling but as an obligation to give back.
भावार्थ
यज्ञ से सन्तुष्ट हुए देवता तुम्हें इच्छित भोग देंगे। उनके दिए हुए भोगों को जो उन्हें अर्पित किए बिना स्वयं भोगता है, वह निश्चय ही चोर है।
Living it today
Before enjoying what life gives, pause to give something back, whether thanks, service or sharing. Taking without returning is a quiet kind of theft.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 3.12?
Nourished by sacrifice, the gods will give you the enjoyments you desire. But one who enjoys what they give without offering anything back to them is indeed a thief.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 3.12?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 3 (Karma Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 3.12 in daily life?
Before enjoying what life gives, pause to give something back, whether thanks, service or sharing. Taking without returning is a quiet kind of theft.
Reflected on verse 3.12?
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