Chapter 3 · Verse 14

Path of Selfless Service

अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः। यज्ञाद्भवति पर्जन्यो यज्ञः कर्मसमुद्भवः

annād bhavanti bhūtāni parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ yajñād bhavati parjanyo yajñaḥ karma-samudbhavaḥ

Word Meanings

annāt bhavanti bhūtāni parjanyāt anna sambhavaḥ yajñāt bhavati parjanyaḥ yajñaḥ karma samudbhavaḥ

Translation

All beings are sustained by food; food is produced from rain; rain arises from sacrifice, and sacrifice is born of action.

Commentary

अन्नात् from food? भवन्ति come forth? भूतानि beings? पर्जन्यात् from rain? अन्नसम्भवः production of food? यज्ञात् from sacrifice? भवति arises? पर्जन्यः rain? यज्ञः sacrifice? कर्मसमुद्भवः born of action.Commentary Here Yajna means Apurva or the subtle principle or the unseen form which a sacrifice assumes between the time of its performance and the time when its fruits manifest themselves.