Know that action comes from the Vedas, and the Vedas come from the imperishable. Therefore, the all-pervading supreme reality is always established in sacrifice.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 3.15
Hindi · हिन्दी
सम्पूर्ण प्राणी अन्नसे उत्पन्न होते हैं । अन्न वर्षासे होती है । वर्षा यज्ञसे होती है । यज्ञ कर्मोंसे निष्पन्न होता है । कर्मोंको तू वेदसे उत्पन्न जान और वेदको अक्षरब्रह्मसे प्रकट हुआ जान । इसलिये वह सर्वव्यापी परमात्मा यज्ञ कर्तव्यकर्म में नित्य प्रतिष्ठित है ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
कर्मactionब्रह्मोद्भवंborn from Brahmanविद्धिknowब्रह्मBrahmanअक्षरसमुद्भवम्arising from the imperishableतस्मात्thereforeसर्वगतम्all-pervadingब्रह्मBrahmanनित्यम्alwaysयज्ञेin sacrificeप्रतिष्ठितम्established
Read literallyaction · born from Brahman · know · Brahman · arising from the imperishable · therefore · all-pervading · Brahman · always · in sacrifice · established
Understanding the verse
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Action comes from the Vedas, the Vedas from the imperishable, so Brahman abides in sacrifice.
Action arises from sacred order, that order arises from the imperishable, and the all-pervading supreme reality is rooted in selfless offering.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
After showing how sacrifice sustains life, Krishna now traces action back to the Vedas and beyond them to the imperishable source, grounding karma yoga in cosmic order.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
A village head deciding where the new well goes knows the choice touches every household. Seeing it as part of a larger order, he sets aside his own family's convenience and decides for all of them.
The takeaway
“Work feels lighter when you see it as part of a larger order, not a personal burden.”
Action arises from sacred order, that order arises from the imperishable, and the all-pervading supreme reality is rooted in selfless offering.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 3.15?
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 3.15?
Verse 15 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 3.15 matter today?
A village head deciding where the new well goes knows the choice touches every household. Seeing it as part of a larger order, he sets aside his own family's convenience and decides for all of them.
Action comes from the Vedas, the Vedas from the imperishable, so Brahman abides in sacrifice.
What this verse means
Action arises from sacred order, that order arises from the imperishable, and the all-pervading supreme reality is rooted in selfless offering.
Context & commentary
After showing how sacrifice sustains life, Krishna now traces action back to the Vedas and beyond them to the imperishable source, grounding karma yoga in cosmic order.
What it looks like today
A village head deciding where the new well goes knows the choice touches every household. Seeing it as part of a larger order, he sets aside his own family's convenience and decides for all of them.
“Work feels lighter when you see it as part of a larger order, not a personal burden.”
Explore related themes: karma yoga (55 verses), yajna (32 verses), akshara (12 verses)