Bhagavad Gita 3.12 meaningWhy action matters
In simple wordsSo simple a child gets it
“Taking without giving back is like stealing.”
What it means
“Nature gives you what you need. Anyone who takes its gifts without giving anything back is no better than a thief.”
The original Sanskrit
इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः । तैर्दत्तानप्रदायैभ्यो यो भुङ्क्ते स्तेन एव सः ॥
iṣṭānbhogānhi vo devā dāsyante yajñabhāvitāḥ tairdattānapradāyaibhyo yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ
Translations
Literal translation
'Being nourished by sacrifices, the gods will indeed give you the coveted enjoyments. He is certainly a theif who enjoys what have been given by them without offering (these) to them.'
Swami Gambhirananda
हिंदी अनुवाद
यज्ञ द्वारा पोषित देवतागण तुम्हें इष्ट भोग प्रदान करेंगे। उनके द्वारा दिये हुये भोगों को जो पुरुष उनको दिये बिना ही भोगता है वह निश्चय ही चोर है।
Swami Tejomayananda
Go deeper
Commentaries
How great teachers across 1,200 years have explained this verse.
Loading commentaries…
Keep reading · 3.13“Good people share what they have and eat after giving, and they are free from wrong. Those who cook only for themselves are feeding on selfishness.”