Verse-14
Chapter 3 — Karma Yoga
Verse 14
🕉 Original Sanskrit Shloka
annādbhavanti bhūtāni parjanyādannasambhavaḥ
yajñādbhavati parjanyo yajñaḥ karmasamudbhavaḥ
🕉 English Translation
📜 Translation
English
From food come forth beings. From rain is the birth of food. From sacrifice comes into being the rain and sacrifice is born of action.
Everyone is familiar with the importance of food. From the viewpoint of physical existence food is an essential factor in birth and nourishment. All beings remain alive by consuming food. In the origin of food rain is the main cause. Rain is caused by sacrifice. The mantras and offerings offered in the sacrifices are capable of producing clouds in the sky. The potency of the mantras have been vouched for by the sages. By making offerings in the sacrificial fire clouds are created and from the clouds, the potency of the mantras in the form of rain has been experienced, but its implication is not limited just to this only.
The Gita is a scripture of Essential Truths. Prior to this it has been hinted that Nature is governed by the gods. Sacrifice meaning the egoless actions done for the welfare of others increases the pleasure of the gods, and in the same order the rain also falls in the form of the blessings of the gods on the beings.
'Yajnah karmasamudhbhavah' Sacrifice originates from actions. Inaction, indolence, sloth, lethargy can never be the synonyms of sacrifice. Renunciation of action can never be termed as sacrifice. Accomplishment of sacrifice can be had with actions done with total dedication, whether it is matter performing ritualistic sacrifice or from a wider viewpoint performance of one's duty pertaining to one's social status. In actions skillfulness, sincerity, awareness and self-surrender are all necessary. Sacrifice is to be made of egoism and clinging, this will transform the work into the category of sacrifice.