देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु वः | परस्परं भावयन्तः श्रेयः परमवाप्स्यथ || ११ ||
devān bhāvayatānena te devā bhāvayantu vaḥ parasparaṁ bhāvayantaḥ śreyaḥ param avāpsyatha
devān—the demigods; bhāvayatā—having satisfied; anena—by this sacrifice; te—those; devāḥ—demigods; bhāvayantu—will satisfy; vaḥ—you; parasparam—mutually; bhāvayantaḥ—satisfying one another; śreyaḥ—good; param—the supreme; avāpsyatha—you will achieve.
“Nourish the cosmic powers (devas) through sacrifice, and those powers will nourish you in return. Nourishing one another, you shall attain the highest good.”
The 'devas' represent the natural and cosmic forces — rain, fire, wind, earth — that sustain life. When humans honour these through selfless action and gratitude, the natural order is maintained and prosperity follows. This is not superstition but an acknowledgement of the sacred interconnectedness of all creation. Disconnection from this reciprocal web leads to ecological, moral, and spiritual deterioration.
Live in conscious reciprocity with nature and society. For every resource you consume, ask how you can contribute in return. This could be as simple as planting trees, reducing waste, or supporting those who have less. The Gita here endorses what ecology calls 'circular systems' — give back what you take.