Chapter 3, Verse 14 (Bhagavad Gita 3.14)
Chapter 3: Karm Yog – Path of Selfless Service
Sanskrit Shloka
अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः। यज्ञाद्भवति पर्जन्यो यज्ञः कर्मसमुद्भवः
Transliteration
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
All living beings are sustained by food; food is produced by rain; rain is generated by sacrifice; and sacrifice arises from action.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse establishes the cosmic cycle of interdependence, illustrating that no existence is isolated. It teaches that our individual actions are not merely personal endeavors but are threads in a vast, interconnected web of life. By performing 'Yajna'—selfless service or duty—we contribute to the ecological and spiritual harmony of the universe. When we shift our focus from selfish consumption to sacrificial contribution, we align ourselves with the natural flow of creation. Ultimately, it reveals that existence is a reciprocal process where every selfless act nourishes the whole, thereby sustaining the individual.