In Bhagavad Gita 3.10, Krishna recalls that at the beginning, the Creator brought forth beings together with sacrifice and said: by this you shall prosper; let it fulfil your desires.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा
पुरोवाच प्रजापतिः
अनेन प्रसविष्यध्वम्
एष वोऽस्त्विष्टकामधुक् ॥ ३-१० ॥
sahayajñāḥ prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā
purovāca prajāpatiḥ
anena prasaviṣyadhvam
eṣa vo’stviṣṭakāmadhuk
English transliteration sahayajnaah prajaah srishtvaa
purovaacha prajaapatih
anena prasavishyadhvam
esha vo’stvishtakaamadhuk ॥ 3.10 ॥
Translation / Meaning
In the beginning, having created human beings together with sacrifice, the Creator said: “By this you shall prosper; let this be the wish-fulfilling cow for you.”
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| सहयज्ञाः sahayajñāḥ | together with sacrifice saha (with) + yajñāḥ (sacrifices) |
| प्रजाः prajāḥ | beings |
| सृष्ट्वा sṛṣṭvā | having created |
| पुरा purā | in the beginning |
| उवाच uvāca | said |
| प्रजापतिः prajāpatiḥ | the Creator, Lord of beings |
| अनेन anena | by this |
| प्रसविष्यध्वम् prasaviṣyadhvam | you shall prosper, multiply |
| एषः eṣaḥ | this |
| वः vaḥ | your |
| अस्तु astu | may be |
| इष्टकामधुक् iṣṭakāmadhuk | the wish-fulfilling cow iṣṭa (desired) + kāma (wishes) + dhuk (milking, yielding) |
Word-wise Chanting
- sa–ha–ya–jñāḥ pra–jāḥ sṛṣ–ṭvā 8 syllables sa-ha-ya-jnaah pra-jaah srish-tvaa
- pu–ro–vā–ca pra–jā–pa–tiḥ | 8 syllables pu-ro-vaa-cha pra-jaa-pa-tih
- a–ne–na pra–sa–viṣ–yadh–vam– 8 syllables a-ne-na pra-sa-vish-yadh-vam-
- e–ṣa vo–‘stviṣ–ṭa–kā–ma–dhuk || 3-10 8 syllables e-sha vo-‘stvish-ta-kaa-ma-dhuk
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 3 Verse 10
Context
Krishna places yajña within the cosmic order, explaining its origin (3.10–3.16).
Meaning
In this ancient image, Prajāpati, the Lord of creatures, creates beings together with yajña. Sacrifice is built into the structure of creation from the beginning. By offering, beings prosper; offering is the kāmadhuk, the wish-fulfilling cow that provides for every legitimate need.
The deeper meaning is that life is sustained by giving. Nature gives sunlight, rain and food; living beings give back through care, labour and gratitude. When we live as participants in this exchange, life flourishes. When we only take, the cycle breaks.
In Practice
Identify one way you receive from the world without giving back. Choose one act of giving to balance it this week.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 3: Karma Yoga (The Yoga of Action). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.