In Bhagavad Gita 3.14, Krishna describes the cycle of life: beings arise from food, food from rain, rain from sacrifice, and sacrifice is born of action.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि
पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः
यज्ञाद्भवति पर्जन्यो
यज्ञः कर्मसमुद्भवः ॥ ३-१४ ॥
annādbhavanti bhūtāni
parjanyādannasambhavaḥ
yajñādbhavati parjanyo
yajñaḥ karmasamudbhavaḥ
English transliteration annaadbhavanti bhootaani
parjanyaadannasambhavah
yajnaadbhavati parjanyo
yajnah karmasamudbhavah ॥ 3.14 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Beings are born from food; food is produced from rain; rain comes from sacrifice; and sacrifice is born of action.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अन्नात् annāt | from food |
| भवन्ति bhavanti | arise |
| भूतानि bhūtāni | beings |
| पर्जन्यात् parjanyāt | from rain |
| अन्नसम्भवः annasambhavaḥ | the production of food anna (food) + sambhavaḥ (production) |
| यज्ञात् yajñāt | from sacrifice |
| भवति bhavati | arises |
| पर्जन्यः parjanyaḥ | rain |
| यज्ञः yajñaḥ | sacrifice |
| कर्मसमुद्भवः karmasamudbhavaḥ | born of action karma (action) + samudbhavaḥ (born) |
Word-wise Chanting
- an–nād–bha–van–ti bhū–tā–ni 8 syllables an-naad-bha-van-ti bhoo-taa-ni
- par–jan–yā–dan–na–sam–bha–vaḥ | 8 syllables par-jan-yaa-dan-na-sam-bha-vah
- ya–jñād–bha–va–ti par–jan–yo 8 syllables ya-jnaad-bha-va-ti par-jan-yo
- ya–jñaḥ kar–ma–sa–mud–bha–vaḥ || 3-14 8 syllables ya-jnah kar-ma-sa-mud-bha-vah
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 14
Context
Krishna describes the great cycle that links all beings (3.14–3.16).
Meaning
The verse traces a circle: living beings depend on food; food depends on rain; rain depends on yajña, the offering that maintains cosmic harmony; and yajña depends on karma, action. Life is a chain of interdependence in which human action plays a vital part.
Ancient Vedic thought saw sacrifice as maintaining the order of nature. We may also see in it an ecological vision: the health of the earth depends on how we act. Our actions feed back into the systems that feed us. Right action is not only personal; it sustains the world.
In Practice
Learn one fact today about where your food comes from, and let it deepen your sense of connection and responsibility.
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.