THE BHAGAVAD GITA

CHAPTER 3 : STANZAS 9 TO 16

THE IMPORTANCE OF SACRIFICE

ÙOÇÉOOÐOORÏkØORÎOOE{ÓÙOæO ÚOOEkOE{ÙO| kØORÖOÓÒOÓO: .
ÏOdÐOR| kØOR kOWÓÏOEÙO ØO¤ÀÏOÞOÄñ: ÞOØOOÅOr .. 9 ..

ÙOÇÉOOÐOORÏO¯    ÙOÇÉO   kE    ¢ÚOÙOE   ¢kÙOO   ÂOÙOO    for the sake of sacrifice

kØORÎO:    kØOR   of action

AÓÙOæO    AÓÙOÐOO    otherwise

ÚOOEk: ÞO|ÞOOr the world

AÙOØO¯    ÙOh   this

kØORÖOÓÒOÓO:    kØOOER|   ¹OrO  ÖO|ÒOO    bound by action

ÏOdÐORØO¯    uÞOkE   ¢ÚOÙOE   for that sake

kØOR   kØOR   action

kOWÓÏOEÙO    hE   kOWÓÏOEÙO   O Kaunteya

ØO¤ÀÏOÞOÄñ:    AOÞO¢ÀÏO   ÞOE    ØO¤ÀÏO    free from attachment

ÞOØOOÅOr    ×OÚO£   ×OO|¢ÏO    AOÅOrÎO   krOE perform

Man is bound by (the results of) his actions except when they are performed in the spirit of sacrifice. Therefore, O Kaunteya (Arjuna), do your duty, free from attachment, in the spirit of sacrifice. (9)

ØOÓO¤ÝÙO   AÔOÓOE    kØOOER|   kE    PÚO   ÞOE ÖO|ÒOO    rhÏOO   hW    ¢ÞOÛOOÙO    ÏOÖO   ÇOÖO   ÙOh    kØOR   ÙOÇÉO   kE    ãÔO   ØOE|   ¢kÙOO    ÂOÙOO   hOE iÞO¢ÚOÙOE hE    kOWÓÏOEÙO   AÇO¤RÓO ÏO¤ØO    AÓOOÞOÀÏO    rhÏOE   h¤e ÙOÇÉO    ãÔO   ØOE|   AÔOÓOE    kØOR  kO   ×OÚO£  p#kOr   ÞOE   AOÅOrÎO  krOE . (9)
ÞOhÙOÇÉOO : p#ÇOO : ÞO¦¾qÛOO ÔO¤rOEÛOOÅO p#ÇOOÔO¢ÏO : .
AÓOEÓO p#ÞO¢ÛOÝÙOÒÛOØOEÝO ÛOOE{Þ¢ÏÛO¾kOØOÒO¤kq .. 10 ..

ÞOhÙOÇÉOO:    ÙOÇÉO   kE    ÞOOÐO    together with sacrifice

p#ÇOO: p#ÇOO   kOE   mankind

ÞO¦¾qÛOO    rÅOkr   having created

rO   AO¢d   kOÚO  ØOE| in the beginning

uÛOOÅO khO   said

p#ÇOOÔO¢ÏO:    p#ÇOOÔO¢ÏO   ÓOE    Prajapati

AÓOEÓO    iÞOÞOE by this

p#ÞO¢ÛOÝÙOÒÛOØO¯    ÞOØO¦¢¼   kOE    p#OÔÏO   hOEAOE shall you prosper

eÝO:   ÙOh   this

ÛO:   ÏO¤ØOÚOOEÂOOE|   kOE    your

AÞÏO¤    hOEe   let be

i¾kOØOÒO¤kq    i¢ÅCÏO   kOØOÓOOAOE| kOE    dEÓOEÛOOÚO£    ÂOOÙO    milch cow of desires

Having created mankind    in the spirit of sacrifice at the beginning of creation, the Prajapati (lord of the creatures), said to them, "You shall prosper by this; may this be the milch cow that yields all desires." (10)

kÚÔO kE AO¢d ØOE| p#ÇOOÔO¢ÏO ÞOØOÞÏO p#O¢ÎOÙOOE| kE ÞÛOOØO£ ÓOE ÙOÇÉO ÞO¢hÏO ÇOO kOE rÅOkr uÓOÞOE khO iÞO ÙOÇÉO ¹OrO ÏO¤ØO ÞOÖO ÛO¦¢¼ kOE p#OÔÏO hOEAOE ÙOh ÏO¤ØOÚOOEÂOOE| k£ ÞOØOÞÏO i¢ÅCÏO kOØOÓOOAOE| kO p#dOÏOO hW . (10)
dEÛOOÓ×OOÛOÙOÏOOÓOEÓO ÏOE dEÛOO ×OOÛOÙOÓÏO¤ ÛO: .
ÔOrÞÔOr| ×OOÛOÙOÓÏO: ½qOEÙO: ÔOrØOÛOOÔÞO¯ÙOÐO .. 11 ..

dEÛOOÓO¯    dEÛOÏOO the gods

×OOÛOÙOÏO    ÔOOEÝOÎO   krOE    nourish you

AÓOEÓO    iÞOkE   ¹OrO   with this

ÏOE   ÛOE   those

dEÛOO:   dEÛOÏOO gods

×OOÛOÙOÓÏO¤    ÔOOE¢ÝOÏO   krE|    may nourish

ÛO:   ÏO¤ØOÚOOEÂOOE|   k£    you

ÔOrÞÔOrØO¯    AOÔOÞO ØOE|   one another

×OOÛOÙOÓÏO:    u°¢ÏO krÏOE   h¤e   nourishing

½qOEÙO:    kÚÙOOÎO   kOE    good

ÔOrØO¯    ÔOrØO the highest

AÛOOÔÞO¯ÙOÐO    p#OÔÏO krOEÂOE   shall attain

"Foster the gods through this (sacrifice),that the gods may be gracious to you. Thus fostering each other disinterestedly, you will attain the highest good." (11)

iÞO ÙOÇÉO ¹OrO dEÛOÏOOAOE| kO ÔOOEÝOÎO krOE ÏOO¢k dEÛOÏOO ÏO¤ØhE| ÔOOE¢ÝOÏO krE| AOWr iÞO p#kOr ÔOrÞÔOr ÞOhÙOOEÂO krÏOE h¤e u°¢ÏO AOWr ÔOrØO kÚÙOOÎO kOE p#OÔÏO krOEÂOE (11)

i¾OÓ×OOEÂOO¢Óh ÛOOE dEÛOO dOÞÙOÓÏOE ÙOÇÉO×OO¢ÛOÏOO : .
ÏOWdRÏtOOÓOp#dOÙOW×ÙOOE ÙOOE ×O¤ÄðqÏOE ÞÏOEÓO eÛO ÞO: .. 12 ..

i¾OÓO¯    ÛOO|¢CÏO    desired

×OOEÂOOÓO¯    ×OOEÂOOE| kOE   objects

¢h   ¢ÓOàqOÙO   h£    so

ÛO:   ÏO¤ØOkOE    to you

dEÛOO:   dEÛOÏOOÂOÎO    the gods

dOÞÙOÓÏOE    dE|ÂOE   will give

ÙOÇÉO×OO¢ÛOÏOO:    ÙOÇÉO   ¹OrO    ÔOOE¢ÝOÏO    nourished by sacrifice

ÏOW:   uÓOkE   ¹OrO   by them

dÏtOOÓO¯    ¢dÙOE h¤e   given

Ap#dOÙO ¢ÖOÓOO   ×OE|z    ¢kÙOE    without offering

e×ÙO: iÓOkE   ¢ÚOÙOE   to them

ÙO:   ÇOOE   who

×O¤ÄðqÏOE    ×OOEÂOÏOO   hW    enjoys

ÞÏOEÓO:    ÅOOEr   thief

eÛO   ¢ÓOàqOÙO   h£    verily

ÞO:   ÛOh   he

Fostered by sacrifice, the gods will surely bestow on you unasked, all the desired enjoyments. He who enjoys the gifts bestowed by them, without giving anything in return, is verily a thief. (12)
ÙOÇÉO ÞOE ÔOOE¢ÝOÏO AOWr p#ÞO° dEÛOÏOOÂOÎO AÛOÜÙO h£ ¢ÖOÓOO ØOO|ÂOE ÏO¤ØhE| ÞOOrE ÛOO|¢CÏO ×OOEÂOOE| ÞOE ÔO¢rÔO¥ÎOR krE|ÂOE ¢kÓÏO¤ ÇOOE ØOÓO¤ÝÙO dEÛOÏOOAOE| ¹OrO ¢dÙOE ÂOÙOE ×OOEÂOOE| kOE uÓhE| A¢ÔORÏO ¢kÙOE ¢ÖOÓOO h£ ×OOEÂOÏOO hW ÛOh ¢ÓOàÙO h£ ÅOOEr hW (12)

ÙOÇÉO¢ÜO¾O¢ÜOÓO: ÞOÓÏOOE ØO¤ÅÙOÓÏOE ÞOÛOR¢k¢ÚÖOÝOW : .
×O¤ÉÇOÏOE ÏOE ÏÛOÃO| ÔOOÔOO ÙOE ÔOÅOÓÏÙOOÏØOkOrÎOOÏO¯ .. 13 ..

ÙOÇÉO¢ÜO¾O¢ÜOÓO:    ÙOÇÉO   ÞOE    ÜOEÝO   ÖOÅOE   h¤e    A°   kOE    ÁOOÓOEÛOOÚOE    those who consume the remains from sacrifice

ÞOÓÏO:    ½qOE¿ ÔO¤âÝO the righteous

ØO¤ÅÙOÓÏOE    C\zÏOE   hW|   are freed

ÞOÛOR¢k¢ÚÖOÝOW:    ÞOØOÞÏO   ÔOOÔOOE|    ÞOE    from all sins

×O¤ÉÇOÏOE    ÁOOÏOE hW|   eat

ÏOE   ÛOE   those

ÏO¤ ÚOE¢kÓO    indeed

AÃOØO¯    ÔOOÔO sin

ÔOOÔOO:    ÔOOÔO£ÇOÓO    sinful ones

ÙOE   ÇOOE   who

ÔOÅO¢ÓÏO    ÔOkOÏOE hW|   cook

AOÏØOkOrÎOOÏO¯    AÔOÓOE ¢ÚOÙOE   h£   for their own sake

The virtuous who partake of what is left over after the sacrifice, are absolved of all sins. Those sinful ones who cook for their own sake,
indeed only eat sin. (13)
ÙOÇÉO ØOE A¢ÔORÏO ×OOEÇOÓO ÞOE ÖOÅOO h¤AO ×OOEÇOÓO ÂO#hÎO krÓOE ÛOOÚOE ÞOdOÅOOr£ ÔO¤âÝO ÞOØOÞÏO ÔOOÔOOE| ÞOE ØO¤ÀÏO hOE ÇOOÏOE hW| ÇOOE ÔOOÔO£ÇOÓO kEÛOÚO AÔOÓOE ÜOr£r kE ÔOOEÝOÎO kE ¢ÚOe h£ ÔOkOÏOE hW| ÛOE ÏOOE ÔOOÔO kOE h£ ÁOOÏOE hW| (13)
A°OìÛO¢ÓÏO ×O¥ÏOO¢ÓO ÔOÇORÓÙOOd°ÞOØ×OÛO: .
ÙOÇÉOOìÛO¢ÏO ÔOÇORÓÙOOE ÙOÇÉO: kØORÞOØO¤ìÛO: .. 14 ..

A°OÏO¯    A°   ÞOE   from food

×OÛO¢ÓÏO    uÏÔO° hOEÏOE   hW|   come forth

×O¥ÏOO¢ÓO    p#OÎO£ beings

ÔOÇORÓÙOOÏO¯    ÛOÝOOR ÞOE   from rain

A°ÞOØ×OÛO:    A°   kO  uÏÔOOdÓO    production of food

ÙOÇÉOOÏO¯    ÙOÇÉO   ÞOE    from sacrifice

×OÛO¢ÏO    hOEÏO£ hW   arises

ÔOÇORÓÙO:    ÛOÝOOR rain

ÙOÇÉO:    ÙOÇÉO    sacrifice

kØORÞOØO¤ìÛOØO¯    kØOOER|   ÞOE  uÏÔO°   hOEÏOO   hW   born of action

All beings are evolved from food; production of food is dependent on rain; rain ensues from sacrifice; and sacrifice is rooted in prescribed actions. (14)

ÞOØOÞÏO   p#OÎO£    A°   ÞOE    uÏÔO°   hOEÏOE   hW|    A°   kO    uÏÔOOdÓO   ÛOÝOOR   ÔOr    ¢ÓO×ORr   hW   ÛOÝOOR    ÙOÇÉO   ÞOE   uÏÔO°    hOEÏO£   hW AOWr    ÙOÇÉO   ¢ÓOÙOÏO   kØOOER|    kE   krÓOE    ÞOE   uÏÔO°   hOEÏOO    hW   (14)
kØOR ÖO#'OEìÛO| ¢ÛO¢¼ ÖO#'OßOrÞOØO¤ìÛOØO¯ .
ÏOÞØOOÏÞOÛORÂOÏO| ÖO#' ¢ÓOÏÙO| ÙOÇÉOE p#¢ÏO¢¿ÏOØO¯ .. 15 ..

kØOR   kØOR   action

ÖO#'OEìÛOØO¯    ÖO#'   ÞOE  uÏÔO°   hOEÏOO   hW   arises from Brahma

¢ÛO¢¼    ÇOOÓOOE know

ÖO#'   ÖO#'   Brahma

AßOrÞOØO¤ìÛOØO¯    A¢ÛOÓOOÜO£   ÞOE    uÏÔO°    arisen from the Imperishable

ÏOÞØOOÏO¯    AÏO:   therefore

ÞOÛORÂOÏOØO¯    ÞOÛORÛÙOOÔO£    all pervading

ÖO#'   ÖO#'   Brahma

¢ÓOÏÙOØO¯    ÞOdO   h£   ever

ÙOÇÉOE    ÙOÇÉO   ØOE|    in sacrifice

p#¢ÏO¢¿ÏOØO¯    p#¢ÏO¢¿ÏO   hW    is established

Know that prescribed actions have their origin in the Vedas, and the Vedas proceed from the Indestructible (God); hence the all-per
pervading Infinite is always present in sacrifice. (15)

ÙOh    ÇOOÓO   ÚOOE   ¢k   kØOR  ÛOEdOE| ÞOE   uÏÔO°  h¤e   AOWr   ÛOEdOE|  k£ uÏÔO¢ÏtO   h¤iI  A¢ÛOÓOOÜO£ ÔOrØOOÏØOO ÞOE   AÏO:  ÞOÛORÛÙOOÔO£   AßOr    ÔOrØOOÏØOO    ÞOdO   h£ ÙOÇÉO    ØOE|   p#¢ÏO¢¿ÏO   hW|   (15)
eÛO| p#ÛO¢ÏORÏO| ÅO@| ÓOOÓO¤ÛOÏORÙOÏO£h ÙO: .
AÃOOÙO¤¢r¢Ód#ÙOOrOØOOE ØOOEÃO| ÔOOÐOR ÞO ÇO£ÛO¢ÏO .. 16 ..

eÛOØO¯    iÞO   p#kOr   thus

p#ÛO¢ÏORÏOØO¯    ÅOÚOOÙOE   h¤e    set revolving

ÅO@ØO¯    ÞO¦¢¾ÅO@    wheel

ÓO   ÓOh£| not

AÓO¤ÛOÏORÙO¢ÏO    AÓO¤ÞOrÎO   krÏOO    follows

ih   iÞO   ÚOOEk  ØOE| here

ÙO:   ÇOOE   who

AÃOOÙO¤:    ÔOOÔOÔO¥ÎOR   ÇO£ÛOÓO   hW    ¢ÇOÞOkO    living in sin

i¢Ód#ÙOOrOØO:    i¢Ód#ÙOOE| kEÞO¤ÁO kOE ×OOEÂOÓOE ÛOOÚOO    rejoicing in the senses

ØOOEÃOØO¯    ÛÙOÐOR   h£    in vain

ÔOOÐOR hE   ÔOOÐOR   O Partha

ÞO:   ÛOh   he

ÇO£ÛO¢ÏO    ÇO£ÏOO   hW    lives

O Partha (Arjuna), he who does not conform to the this wheel of creation that sustains this world (i.e., does not perform his role in it) is sinful and lives in the senses, a life that is in vain. (16)

PROCEED TO CHAPTER 3 : STANZAS 17 TO 24 RETURN TO CHAPTER 3 : STANZAS 1 TO 8 RETURN TO INDEX OF THE BHAGAVAD GITA