इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः ।
तैर्दत्तानप्रदायैभ्यो यो भुङ्क्ते स्तेन एव सः ॥
तैर्दत्तानप्रदायैभ्यो यो भुङ्क्ते स्तेन एव सः ॥
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 ॥
English
The radiant beings, nourished by sacrifice, will give you the enjoyments you need. One who enjoys their gifts without offering back is a thief.
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.
The takeaway
Generosity feels cleaner than ownership. You are meant to circulate what arrives, not hoard it.
Word-by-word translation
इष्टान् (desired) / भोगान् (enjoyments) / हि (indeed) / वः (to you) / देवाः (radiant beings) / दास्यन्ते (will give) / यज्ञभाविताः (nourished by sacrifice) / तैः (by those) / दत्तान् (given) / अप्रदाय (without giving back) / एभ्यः (to these) / यः (who) / भुङ्क्ते (enjoys) / स्तेनः (thief) / एव (indeed) / सः (he)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3: Karma Yoga — The Yoga of Action, which contains 43 verses.
Explore related themes: yajna (32 verses)