III d. Share the fruit from the fire for truth(3.10-13)

sahayagnaah prajaah srushtvaa purovacha prajaapatih
anena prasavishyadhvamesha vostvishtakaamadhuk (3.10)

devaanbhaavayataanena te devaa bhaavayantu vaa
prasparam bhaavayantah shreyah paramavaapsyatha (3.11)

ishTaanbhogaanhi vo devaa daasyante yagnabhaavitaah
tairdattanapradaayaibhyo bhunkte stena eva sah (3.12)

yagnashishTaashinah santo muchyante sarva kilbishaih
bhunjate tvagham paapaa ye pachantyaatmakaaraNaat(3.13)

With the knowledge process
having created the creation,
the creator within
declares: through kindling
the yagya-
the burning longing for truth
will you prosper, and attain
all that is beautiful and truly worth yearning for...

through this will you nourish
the divine in you
and the
divine essence
will in turn flourish you
through this exchange of insight and inspiration
your attainment
to supreme glory
will come through....

appeased by your endearment
the divine blessing will shower
as insight, joy and
means, opportunities to learn,
to deepen the fire for truth...
without sharing this bountiful gift
one who cherishes them alone
sure is a vainglorious thief!

the disciplined seeker of knowledge
mindful of the body's certain end
savoring life gratefully
while sharing all that is given,
lives free from all worry!
while the one reluctant to share
selfishly consuming the gifts,
living for "me and mine" alone
surely suffers utterly sinful misery!

Dr. Ramanand Prasad's version
Brahmaa, the creator, in the beginning created human beings together with Yajna and said: By Yajna you shall prosper and Yajna shall fulfill all your desires. (3.10)

Nourish the Devas with Yajna, and the Devas will nourish you. Thus nourishing one another you shall attain the Supreme goal. (3.11) (Deva means a deity, a demigod, a celestial person, the agent of God, one who fulfills desires and protects.)

The Devas, nourished by Yajna, will give you the desired objects. One who enjoys the gift of the Devas without offering them (anything in return) is, indeed, a thief. (3.12)

The righteous who eat the remnants of the Yajna are freed from all sins, but the impious who cook food only for themselves (without sharing with others in charity) verily eat sin. (3.13)

III c. Work with Freedom (3.9)

yagnaarthaat karmaNonyatra lokoyam karmabandhanah
tadartham karma kaunteya muktasangah samaacharah (3.9)


in this world,
only that work brings freedom
which is done joyfully,
to move toward knowledge,
as an offering with love!
all else brings bondage...

work thus, with a smile,
move with freedom
toward knowledge
celebrating life,
free from patterns,
work, dropping all worry
rejoice in equanimity
celebrating the inner freedom
silent even amidst activity!!



Dr. Ramanand Prasad's version

Human beings are bound by Karma (or works) other than those done as Yajna. Therefore, O Arjuna, do your duty efficiently as a service or Seva to Me, free from attachment to the fruits of work. (3.09) (Yajna means sacrifice, selfless service, unselfish work, Seva, meritorious deeds, giving away something to others, and a religious rite in which oblation is offered to gods through the mouth of fire.)

III b. Action is superior than inaction (3.6-8)

karmendriyaaNi sanyamya ya aaste manasaa smaran
indreeyaarthaan vimooDhaatmaa mithyaachaarah sa uchyate (2.6)

yastvindriyaaNi manasa niyamyaabharaterjuna
karmendriyaihi karmayogamasaktah sa vishishyate (2.7)

niyatam kuru karma tvam karma jyaayo akarmaNah
shareerayatraapi cha te na prasidhyedakarmaNah (2.8)

outwardly restrained
but inwardly indulgent
one whose mind dwells on and on
on sense gratification
befitting is the title of hypocrite,
for such a self-cheating fool!

on the other hand
the one who is inwardly
disciplined, collected and cool
using the body as a tool
in action-for-harmony
such a special smart one
is centered, savoring the self-rule!

act freely as the moment needs you to....
far superior than inaction,
or even feet-dragging reaction
is the calm, unresisting involvement in "to-do"
even your journey in the body
being unsustainable, impossible
if inaction, resistance, lethargy, dullness
you allow to take over you!!

Dr. Ramanand Prasad's version

The deluded ones, who restrain their organs of action but mentally dwell upon the sense enjoyment, are called hypocrites. (3.06)

The one who controls the senses by the (trained and purified) mind and intellect, and engages the organs of action to Nishkaama Karma-yoga, is superior, O Arjuna. (3.07)

Perform your obligatory duty, because action is indeed better than inaction. Even the maintenance of your body would not be possible by inaction. (3.08)