Some offer the breath into the breath through regulated breathing; some, with regulated food, offer the life-forces into the life-forces. All of them know sacrifice, and sacrifice has washed away their impurities.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 4.30
Hindi · हिन्दी
दूसरे कितने ही प्राणायामके परायण हुए योगीलोग अपानमें प्राणका पूरक करके, प्राण और अपानकी गति रोककर फिर प्राणमें अपानका हवन करते हैं तथा अन्य कितने ही नियमित आहार करनेवाले प्राणोंका प्राणोंमें हवन किया करते हैं । ये सभी साधक यज्ञोंद्वारा पापोंका नाश करनेवाले और यज्ञोंको जाननेवाले हैं ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
अपरेothersनियताहाराःregulated in foodप्राणान्breathsप्राणेषुinto breathsजुह्वतिofferसर्वेallअपिindeedएतेtheseयज्ञविदःknowers of sacrificeयज्ञक्षपितकल्मषाःwhose impurities are destroyed by sacrifice
Read literallyothers · regulated in food · breaths · into breaths · offer · all · indeed · these · knowers of sacrifice · whose impurities are destroyed by sacrifice
Understanding the verse
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Regulated breath and measured food both count as yajna, and Krishna says such practice washes impurity away.
Some people discipline their breathing, and some control their eating and life-energy. All of them are sincere practitioners of sacrifice, and that practice cleanses them.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna explains many forms of disciplined offering while Arjuna stands frozen. After describing different sacrifices, Krishna adds this verse to show that even breath-control and regulated eating are valid offerings that purify the practitioner.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
You skip the second coffee, keep your breathing steady, and stop feeding your nerves with more noise. Quiet discipline can be its own offering.
The takeaway
“Careful eating and steady breathing, done sincerely, are real offerings that purify.”
Some people discipline their breathing, and some control their eating and life-energy. All of them are sincere practitioners of sacrifice, and that practice cleanses them.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 4.30?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga" (Knowledge and Renunciation of Action).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 4.30?
Verse 30 sits in Chapter 4 of the Bhagavad Gita — Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga, "Knowledge and Renunciation of Action". The chapter has 42 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 4.30 matter today?
You skip the second coffee, keep your breathing steady, and stop feeding your nerves with more noise. Quiet discipline can be its own offering.
Regulated breath and measured food both count as yajna, and Krishna says such practice washes impurity away.
What this verse means
Some people discipline their breathing, and some control their eating and life-energy. All of them are sincere practitioners of sacrifice, and that practice cleanses them.
Context & commentary
Krishna explains many forms of disciplined offering while Arjuna stands frozen. After describing different sacrifices, Krishna adds this verse to show that even breath-control and regulated eating are valid offerings that purify the practitioner.
What it looks like today
You skip the second coffee, keep your breathing steady, and stop feeding your nerves with more noise. Quiet discipline can be its own offering.
“Careful eating and steady breathing, done sincerely, are real offerings that purify.”
Explore related themes: yajna (32 verses)