Those who partake of the nectar left over from sacrifice attain the eternal supreme reality. This world is not for the one who does not perform sacrifice; how then the next world?
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 4.31
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे कुरुवंशियोंमें श्रेष्ठ अर्जुन यज्ञसे बचे हुए अमृतका अनुभव करनेवाले सनातन परब्रह्म परमात्माको प्राप्त होते हैं । यज्ञ न करनेवाले मनुष्यके लिये यह मनुष्यलोक भी सुखदायक नहीं है, फिर परलोक कैसे सुखदायक होगा ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
यज्ञशिष्टामृतभुजोthose who eat the nectar left over from sacrificeयान्तिgoब्रह्मto the supreme realityनnotअयम्thisलोकःworldअस्तिisअयज्ञस्यfor one without sacrificeकुतःhowअन्यःthe otherकुरुसत्तमO best among the Kurus
Read literallythose who eat the nectar left over from sacrifice · go · to the supreme reality · not · this · world · is · for one without sacrifice · how · the other · O best among the Kurus
Understanding the verse
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Krishna calls the remainder of sacrifice nectar, and says a life without sacrifice fails even in this world.
People who live by sacrifice and accept its blessed remainder move toward the eternal supreme reality. Without sacrifice, even this life loses its value, so the next one cannot be better.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna explains to the frozen Arjuna how action can become sacred. After describing many forms of sacrifice, Krishna says that those who receive the blessed remainder of sacrifice move toward the eternal supreme reality, while a life without sacrifice cannot even sustain this world.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
In many homes, the family eats only after food has been offered at the shrine and a portion kept for guests. Krishna calls that remainder nectar, and says a household that never shares loses out in this life, before any talk of the next.
The takeaway
“A life with no giving goes wrong here, let alone in any next world.”
Explore related themes: karma yoga(55 verses), yajna(32 verses)
Common questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 4.31 mean?
People who live by sacrifice and accept its blessed remainder move toward the eternal supreme reality. Without sacrifice, even this life loses its value, so the next one cannot be better.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 4.31?
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 4.31?
Verse 31 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 4.31 matter today?
In many homes, the family eats only after food has been offered at the shrine and a portion kept for guests. Krishna calls that remainder nectar, and says a household that never shares loses out in this life, before any talk of the next.
Krishna calls the remainder of sacrifice nectar, and says a life without sacrifice fails even in this world.
What this verse means
People who live by sacrifice and accept its blessed remainder move toward the eternal supreme reality. Without sacrifice, even this life loses its value, so the next one cannot be better.
Context & commentary
Krishna explains to the frozen Arjuna how action can become sacred. After describing many forms of sacrifice, Krishna says that those who receive the blessed remainder of sacrifice move toward the eternal supreme reality, while a life without sacrifice cannot even sustain this world.
What it looks like today
In many homes, the family eats only after food has been offered at the shrine and a portion kept for guests. Krishna calls that remainder nectar, and says a household that never shares loses out in this life, before any talk of the next.
“A life with no giving goes wrong here, let alone in any next world.”
Explore related themes: karma yoga (55 verses), yajna (32 verses)