Verse-12
Chapter 3 — Karma Yoga
Verse 12
🕉 Original Sanskrit Shloka
iṣṭānbhogānhi vo devā dāsyante yajñabhāvitāḥ
tairdattānapradāyaibhyo yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ
🕉 English Translation
📜 Translation
English
Nourished by sacrifice the gods will definitely give you desired enjoyments without requesting for them. In this manner the one who utilizes the enjoyments given by the gods for himself without using them for the welfare of others is verily a thief.
The art of giving the message while engaging in dialogue, one should learn from Shri Krishna. How marvellous are the inspirations of the Bhagvad Gita and how splendid is the style of their presentation? The Lord has tried to convince, provided temptations and at the same time has warned as well. If the parents are pleased then their affectionate blessings will naturally be showered on the child. If the gods are pleased then the being who is nurturing the spirit of sacrifice will be made the object of their beneficence. The desired objects will be granted by the gods.
Understand the further order of thought seriously. In this manner whatever has been received from the gods due to the spirit of doing well to others, gods become pleased due to the spirit of doing good to others by human beings. But whatever has been obtained, if it is limitedly used for one's own self then what is the situation? Gratitude is essential. Why has it been given? What pleases the gods and God Himself? Their happiness lies in the welfare of others. But when it is used without offering to the gods, without dedicating to them and in the wider sense in accordance with the nature of doing well to others, and to gods, and is not being used for the welfare of others but for the enjoyment one's own self, then Shri Krishna says 'stena eva sah' (he is verily a thief). The implication of the Gita is not to make or call anyone a thief but cautioning against becoming a thief. Be vigilant lest there should be no such tag on us.