Bhagavad Gita 3.14

Verse 14

अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः | यज्ञाद्भवति पर्जन्यो यज्ञः कर्मसमुद्भवः || १४ ||

Transliteration

annād bhavanti bhūtāni parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ yajñād bhavati parjanyo yajñaḥ karma-samudbhavaḥ

Synonyms

annāt—from food; bhavanti—grow; bhūtāni—all living beings; parjanyāt—from rain; anna—of food; sambhavaḥ—production; yajñāt—from performance of yajna; bhavati—becomes possible; parjanyaḥ—rain; yajñaḥ—performance of yajna; karma—of prescribed duties; samudbhavaḥ—born of.

Translation

All beings are nourished by food; food is produced by rain; rain comes from sacrifice; and sacrifice is born from prescribed action.

Multi-Tradition Commentary

Ramanuja (Vishishtadvaita)

Krishna traces the complete cycle: duty (karma) → sacrifice (yajna) → rain (parjanya) → food (anna) → life (bhūta). This chain reveals that righteous action is not merely a personal virtue but a cosmic necessity. When human beings fail their dharmic duties — including care for the environment — the entire chain is disrupted, resulting in natural and social breakdown.

Practical Application (Modern Life)

See your daily duties as part of a vast cosmic chain, not isolated personal choices. The farmer who grows food, the scientist who studies climate, the citizen who votes responsibly — all are participating in this sacred cycle. Approach your own work with the awareness that it has consequences far beyond what you can immediately see.

Chapter Content

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