Chapter 3 · Verse 12

Path of Selfless Service

इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः। तैर्दत्तानप्रदायैभ्यो यो भुङ्क्ते स्तेन एव सः

iṣhṭān bhogān hi vo devā dāsyante yajña-bhāvitāḥ tair dattān apradāyaibhyo yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ

Word Meanings

iṣhṭān bhogān hi vaḥ devāḥ dāsyante yajña-bhāvitāḥ taiḥ dattān apradāya ebhyaḥ yaḥ bhuṅkte stenaḥ eva saḥ

Translation

The gods, nourished by sacrifice, will bestow upon you all desired enjoyments. He who enjoys their gifts without offering anything in return is truly a thief.

Commentary

इष्टान् desired? भोगान् objects? हि so? वः to you? देवाः the gods? दास्यन्ते will give? यज्ञभाविताः nourished by sacrifice? तैः by them? दत्तान् give? अप्रदाय without offering? एभ्यः to them? यः who? भुङ्क्ते enjoys? स्तेनः thief? एव verily? सः he.Commentary When the gods are pleased with you sacrifices? they will bestow on you all the desired objects such as children? cattle? property? etc. He who enjoys what has been given to him by the gods? i.e.? he who gratifies the cravings of his own body and the senses without offering anything to the gods in return is a veritable thief. He is really a dacoit of the property of the gods.