In Bhagavad Gita 3.11, the Creator’s words continue: nourish the gods by sacrifice and let the gods nourish you; by nourishing one another you shall attain the highest good.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
देवान्भावयतानेन
ते देवा भावयन्तु वः
परस्परं भावयन्तः
श्रेयः परमवाप्स्यथ ॥ ३-११ ॥
devānbhāvayatānena
te devā bhāvayantu vaḥ
parasparaṃ bhāvayantaḥ
śreyaḥ paramavāpsyatha
English transliteration devaanbhaavayataanena
te devaa bhaavayantu vah
parasparam bhaavayantah
shreyah paramavaapsyatha ॥ 3.11 ॥
Translation / Meaning
“Nourish the gods with this, and may the gods nourish you. Nourishing one another, you shall attain the highest good.”
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| देवान् devān | the gods |
| भावयत bhāvayata | nourish |
| अनेन anena | with this |
| ते te | they |
| देवाः devāḥ | the gods |
| भावयन्तु bhāvayantu | may nourish |
| वः vaḥ | you |
| परस्परम् parasparam | one another |
| भावयन्तः bhāvayantaḥ | nourishing |
| श्रेयः śreyaḥ | good |
| परम् param | highest |
| अवाप्स्यथ avāpsyatha | you shall attain |
Word-wise Chanting
- de–vān–bhā–va–ya–tā–ne–na 8 syllables de-vaan-bhaa-va-ya-taa-ne-na
- te de–vā bhā–va–yan–tu vaḥ | 8 syllables te de-vaa bhaa-va-yan-tu vah
- pa–ras–pa–raṃ bhā–va–yan–taḥ 8 syllables pa-ras-pa-ram bhaa-va-yan-tah
- śre–yaḥ pa–ra–ma–vāp–sya–tha || 3-11 8 syllables shre-yah pa-ra-ma-vaap-sya-tha
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 11
Context
The Creator’s words from 3.10 continue.
Meaning
The devas, gods, represent the forces of nature and the higher powers that sustain the world. Human beings honour and nourish them through sacrifice; the devas in turn nourish humanity through rain, harvest and well-being. The key word is parasparam, one another: mutual nourishment is the law of life.
Today we might read this as a vision of interdependence: between humans and nature, individuals and communities, the visible and the invisible. When we care for what sustains us, it sustains us in return. The highest good arises not from isolated gain but from mutual flourishing.
In Practice
Do one thing today that nourishes the natural world or your community, such as planting, cleaning or helping, as an act of mutual care.
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.