The radiant beings, nourished by sacrifice, will give you the enjoyments you need. One who enjoys their gifts without offering back is a thief.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 3.12
Hindi · हिन्दी
यज्ञसे भावित पुष्ट हुए देवता भी तुमलोगोंको बिना माँगे ही कर्तव्यपालनकी आवश्यक सामग्री देते रहेंगे । इस प्रकार उन देवताओंसे प्राप्त हुई सामग्रीको दूसरोंकी सेवामें लगाये बिना जो मनुष्य स्वयं ही उसका उपभोग करता है, वह चोर ही है ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
इष्टान्desiredभोगान्enjoymentsहिindeedवःto youदेवाःradiant beingsदास्यन्तेwill giveयज्ञभाविताःnourished by sacrificeतैःby thoseदत्तान्givenअप्रदायwithout giving backएभ्यःto theseयःwhoभुङ्क्तेenjoysस्तेनःthiefएवindeedसःhe
Read literallydesired · enjoyments · indeed · to you · radiant beings · will give · nourished by sacrifice · by those · given · without giving back · to these · who · enjoys · thief · indeed · he
Understanding the verse
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It shifts action from taking to participating in a cycle of return.
The world keeps giving when you participate in shared responsibility. Taking benefits without giving back is treated as theft.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Krishna is teaching Arjuna that life runs on exchange, not extraction. The earlier verses describe sacrifice as the basis of social order; this verse warns that taking without returning breaks that order.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You use the last of the office printer paper, ignore the shared supply closet, and walk away. The verse lands there: what you consume without replenishing was never truly yours.
The takeaway
“Generosity feels cleaner than ownership. You are meant to circulate what arrives, not hoard it.”
The world keeps giving when you participate in shared responsibility. Taking benefits without giving back is treated as theft.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 3.12?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Karma Yoga" (The Yoga of Action).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 3.12?
Verse 12 sits in Chapter 3 of the Bhagavad Gita — Karma Yoga, "The Yoga of Action". The chapter has 43 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 3.12 matter today?
You use the last of the office printer paper, ignore the shared supply closet, and walk away. The verse lands there: what you consume without replenishing was never truly yours.
It shifts action from taking to participating in a cycle of return.
What this verse means
The world keeps giving when you participate in shared responsibility. Taking benefits without giving back is treated as theft.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Krishna is teaching Arjuna that life runs on exchange, not extraction. The earlier verses describe sacrifice as the basis of social order; this verse warns that taking without returning breaks that order.
Why this verse still matters
You use the last of the office printer paper, ignore the shared supply closet, and walk away. The verse lands there: what you consume without replenishing was never truly yours.
“Generosity feels cleaner than ownership. You are meant to circulate what arrives, not hoard it.”
Explore related themes: yajna (32 verses)