In Bhagavad Gita 3.15, Krishna says action arises from the Veda, the Veda from the Imperishable, and so the all-pervading Brahman is ever present in sacrifice.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि
ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवम्
तस्मात्सर्वगतं ब्रह्म
नित्यं यज्ञे प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥ ३-१५ ॥
karma brahmodbhavaṃ viddhi
brahmākṣarasamudbhavam
tasmātsarvagataṃ brahma
nityaṃ yajñe pratiṣṭhitam
English transliteration karma brahmodbhavam viddhi
brahmaaksharasamudbhavam
tasmaatsarvagatam brahma
nityam yajne pratishthitam ॥ 3.15 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Know that action arises from the Veda, and the Veda comes from the Imperishable. Therefore the all-pervading Brahman is ever established in sacrifice.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| कर्म karma | action |
| ब्रह्मोद्भवम् brahmodbhavam | arising from Brahman, the Veda brahma (the Veda) + udbhavam (arising) |
| विद्धि viddhi | know |
| ब्रह्म brahma | the Veda |
| अक्षरसमुद्भवम् akṣarasamudbhavam | arising from the Imperishable akṣara (the Imperishable) + samudbhavam (arising) |
| तस्मात् tasmāt | therefore |
| सर्वगतम् sarvagatam | all-pervading |
| ब्रह्म brahma | Brahman |
| नित्यम् nityam | ever |
| यज्ञे yajñe | in sacrifice |
| प्रतिष्ठितम् pratiṣṭhitam | established |
Word-wise Chanting
- kar–ma brah–mod–bha–vaṃ vid–dhi 8 syllables kar-ma brah-mod-bha-vam vid-dhi
- brah–mā–kṣa–ra–sa–mud–bha–vam | 8 syllables brah-maa-ksha-ra-sa-mud-bha-vam
- tas–māt–sar–va–ga–taṃ brah–ma 8 syllables tas-maat-sar-va-ga-tam brah-ma
- nit–yaṃ ya–jñe pra–tiṣ–ṭhi–tam || 3-15 8 syllables nit-yam ya-jne pra-tish-thi-tam
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 15
Context
Krishna completes the cycle of 3.14 by tracing it back to the Imperishable.
Meaning
The cycle does not begin with human effort. Right action is guided by the Veda, the revealed knowledge, and that knowledge comes from the Akṣara, the Imperishable Absolute. Therefore Brahman, which pervades everything, is especially present in yajña, in action offered selflessly.
This verse gives dignity to every sincere act of offering. When we act in the spirit of yajña, we participate in something divine. The infinite is not only in temples and meditation; it is present in work done as an offering. Every such act connects us to the source.
In Practice
Choose one routine task and do it today with the thought that the Divine is present in it, as in a sacred rite.
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.