Chapter 3 Verse 14
Karm Yog
अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः। यज्ञाद्भवति पर्जन्यो यज्ञः कर्मसमुद्भवः।।3.14।।
annād bhavanti bhūtāni parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ yajñād bhavati parjanyo yajñaḥ karma-samudbhavaḥ
Word Meanings
| annāt | from food |
| bhavanti | subsist |
| bhūtāni | living beings |
| parjanyāt | from rains |
| anna | of food grains |
| sambhavaḥ | production |
| yajñāt | from the performance of sacrifice |
| bhavati | becomes possible |
| parjanyaḥ | rain |
| yajñaḥ | performance of sacrifice |
| karma | prescribed duties |
| samudbhavaḥ | born of |
Translation
From food come forth beings; from rain, food is produced; from sacrifice arises rain, and sacrifice is born of action.
Philosophical Significance
Core Meaning
This verse shows a simple chain of dependence: living beings need food, food comes from rain, rain is sustained by right action and offering (yajña), and yajña itself grows out of human action. It teaches that the whole world works because people do their duties in a spirit of giving.
Yajña here is not only ritual; it means selfless action and support for the common good. When we act without selfishness, we help maintain natural and social cycles that feed life.
Spiritually, the verse calls us to see our work as part of a larger whole. Every honest, responsible deed becomes a support for others and for the environment.
Life Application
- Treat daily work as service: do your job well and with care, seeing it as contributing to others' well-being.
- Give a portion of time, effort, or resources to community or nature (charity, volunteering, recycling, responsible consumption).
- Act without pure selfishness—focus on duty and the common good rather than only personal gain.
Reflection Question
How does what I do each day help nourish other people or the world?