In Bhagavad Gita 3.13, Krishna says that the good who eat what remains after sacrifice are freed from all sins, while those who cook only for themselves eat sin.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो
मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषैः
भुञ्जते ते त्वघं पापा
ये पचन्त्यात्मकारणात् ॥ ३-१३ ॥
yajñaśiṣṭāśinaḥ santo
mucyante sarvakilbiṣaiḥ
bhuñjate te tvaghaṃ pāpā
ye pacantyātmakāraṇāt
English transliteration yajnashishtaashinah santo
muchyante sarvakilbishaih
bhunjate te tvagham paapaa
ye pachantyaatmakaaranaat ॥ 3.13 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The virtuous who eat the remnants of sacrifice are freed from all sins. But the wicked who cook only for their own sake truly eat sin.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः yajñaśiṣṭāśinaḥ | eating the remnants of sacrifice yajña (sacrifice) + śiṣṭa (remnants) + āśinaḥ (eaters) |
| सन्तः santaḥ | the virtuous |
| मुच्यन्ते mucyante | are freed |
| सर्वकिल्बिषैः sarvakilbiṣaiḥ | from all sins sarva (all) + kilbiṣaiḥ (sins) |
| भुञ्जते bhuñjate | eat |
| ते te | they |
| तु tu | but |
| अघम् agham | sin |
| पापाः pāpāḥ | the wicked |
| ये ye | who |
| पचन्ति pacanti | cook |
| आत्मकारणात् ātmakāraṇāt | for their own sake ātma (self) + kāraṇāt (for the sake) |
Word-wise Chanting
- ya–jña–śiṣ–ṭā–śi–naḥ san–to 8 syllables ya-jna-shish-taa-shi-nah san-to
- muc–yan–te sar–va–kil–bi–ṣaiḥ | 8 syllables much-yan-te sar-va-kil-bi-shaih
- bhuñ–ja–te te tva–ghaṃ pā–pā 8 syllables bhun-ja-te te tva-gham paa-paa
- ye pa–can–tyāt–ma–kā–ra–ṇāt || 3-13 8 syllables ye pa-chan-tyaat-ma-kaa-ra-naat
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 13
Context
Krishna draws the moral consequence of the cycle of sacrifice (3.12).
Meaning
In Indian tradition, food is first offered, to God, to guests, to the needy, and then eaten as prasāda, a blessed remainder. Those who eat in this spirit are purified. Those who cook only for themselves, with no thought of offering or sharing, are said to eat sin: their nourishment feeds selfishness.
The principle extends beyond food. Whatever we gain, money, time, skill, becomes purifying when we first offer and share, and corrupting when we hoard it for ourselves. The order matters: offer first, then enjoy what remains.
In Practice
Before using something you have earned today, set aside a small part to give, share or offer. Enjoy the rest as a blessed remainder.
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.