annāt—from food; bhavanti—subsist; bhūtāni—living beings; parjanyāt—from rains; anna—of food grains; sambhavaḥ—production; yajñāt—from the performance of sacrifice; bhavati—becomes possible; parjanyaḥ—rain; yajñaḥ—performance of sacrifice; karma—prescribed duties; samudbhavaḥ—born of
English translation
From food come forth beings; from rain, food is produced; from sacrifice arises rain, and sacrifice is born of action.
Translation by Swami Sivananda
Hindi meaning
।।3.14।। समस्त प्राणी अन्न से उत्पन्न होते हैं अन्न की उत्पत्ति पर्जन्य से। पर्जन्य की उत्पत्ति यज्ञ से और यज्ञ कर्मों से उत्पन्न होता है।।
Hindi rendering by Swami Tejomayananda
English meaning
All creatures are the product of food; food is the product of rain; rain comes from sacrifice, and sacrifice is the noblest form of action.
Shri Purohit Swami
From food arise the things that are born; from the rain-cloud the food arises; from the sacrifice the rain-cloud arises; the sacrifice arises from action.
Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
Detailed explanation
Here Yajna means Apurva or the subtle principle or the unseen form which a sacrifice assumes between the time of its performance and the time when its fruits manifest themselves.
Commentary by Swami Sivananda
Hindi commentary
।।3.14।। No commentary.
Swami Chinmayananda
3.14।। व्याख्या--'अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि'--प्राणोंको धारण करनेके लिये जो खाया जाता है, वह 'अन्न'(टिप्पणी प0 136.2) कहलाता है। जिस प्राणीका जो खाद्य है, जिसे ग्रहण करनेसे उसके शरीरकी उत्पत्ति, भरण और पुष्टि होती है, उसे ही यहाँ 'अन्न' नामसे कहा गया है; जैसे--मिट्टीका कीड़ा मिट्टी खाकर जीता है तो मिट्टी ही उसके लिये अन्न है।जरायुज (मनुष्य, पशु आदि), उद्भिज्ज (वृक्षादि), अण्डज (पक्षी, सर्प, चींटी आदि) और स्वेदज (जूँ आदि)--ये चारों प्रकारके प्राणी अन्नसे ही उत्पन्न होते हैं और उत्पन्न होकर अन्नसे ही जीवित रहते हैं (टिप्पणी प0 137.1)।
Swami Ramsukhdas
Key teachings
Here Yajna means Apurva or the subtle principle or the unseen form which a sacrifice assumes between the time of its performance and the time when its fruits manifest themselves.
Spiritual significance
In Karma Yoga (Path of Selfless Service), this verse belongs to the Gita’s teaching on karma yoga. Here the text presents that teaching through these words: From food come forth beings; from rain, food is produced; from sacrifice arises rain, and sacrifice is born of action.
This verse sits inside Chapter 3: Karma Yoga, part of the Gita’s Karma Yoga section.
Chapter 3, verse 14 is part of Karma Yoga. In the English translation used on this page, it says: From food come forth beings; from rain, food is produced; from sacrifice arises rain, and sacrifice is born of action.
What is the spiritual context of this verse?
It appears in Karma Yoga, a chapter associated with Karma Yoga. Action versus inaction.
