Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 3 · Karma Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 3.15 कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि
श्लोक 3.15
कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवम् ।
तस्मात्सर्वगतं ब्रह्म नित्यं यज्ञे प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥
karma brahmodbhavaṃ viddhi brahmākṣarasamudbhavam |
tasmātsarvagataṃ brahma nityaṃ yajñe pratiṣṭhitam ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
कर्म को वेद से उत्पन्न जानो और वेद को अविनाशी परमात्मा से उत्पन्न। इसलिए सर्वव्यापी ब्रह्म सदा यज्ञ में प्रतिष्ठित रहता है।
Meaning in English
Know that action arises from the Veda (Brahma), and the Veda springs from the Imperishable. Therefore the all-pervading Brahman is ever established in sacrifice.
Bhagavad Gita 3.15 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| कर्म | karma | action |
| ब्रह्मोद्भवम् | brahma-udbhavam | arising from Brahma (the Veda) |
| विद्धि | viddhi | know |
| ब्रह्म | brahma | the Veda |
| अक्षरसमुद्भवम् | akṣara-samudbhavam | born of the Imperishable |
| तस्मात् | tasmāt | therefore |
| सर्वगतम् | sarva-gatam | all-pervading |
| ब्रह्म | brahma | Brahman |
| नित्यम् | nityam | always |
| यज्ञे | yajñe | in sacrifice |
| प्रतिष्ठितम् | pratiṣṭhitam | is established |
Explanation
Know that action arises from Brahma, and Brahma comes from the Imperishable. Therefore the all-pervading Brahman is ever present in sacrifice.
The word brahma is read in different ways. Shankara takes the first 'brahma' as the Veda, which prescribes action, and the Veda as coming from the imperishable Supreme; so the all-pervading Veda is grounded in yajna. Ramanuja takes 'brahma' here as the body or prakriti, which makes action possible, arising from the individual self. Most readers agree on the point: sacrifice links human action to the highest reality, so offered work is sacred.
भावार्थ
कर्म को वेद से उत्पन्न जानो और वेद अविनाशी परमात्मा से उत्पन्न है। इसलिए सर्वव्यापी ब्रह्म सदा यज्ञ में प्रतिष्ठित है।
Living it today
Work done as an offering connects you to something larger than yourself. Treat even ordinary tasks with that seriousness.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 3.15?
Know that action arises from Brahma, and Brahma comes from the Imperishable. Therefore the all-pervading Brahman is ever present in sacrifice.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 3.15?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 3 (Karma Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 3.15 in daily life?
Work done as an offering connects you to something larger than yourself. Treat even ordinary tasks with that seriousness.
Reflected on verse 3.15?
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