In Bhagavad Gita 4.25, Krishna describes two kinds of sacrifice: some yogis offer worship to the gods, while others offer the self as sacrifice into the fire of Brahman.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
दैवमेवापरे यज्ञं
योगिनः पर्युपासते
ब्रह्माग्नावपरे यज्ञं
यज्ञेनैवोपजुह्वति ॥ ४-२५ ॥
daivamevāpare yajñaṃ
yoginaḥ paryupāsate
brahmāgnāvapare yajñaṃ
yajñenaivopajuhvati
English transliteration daivamevaapare yajnam
yoginah paryupaasate
brahmaagnaavapare yajnam
yajnenaivopajuhvati ॥ 4.25 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Some yogis perform sacrifice in worship of the gods alone; others offer the self as sacrifice by means of sacrifice into the fire of Brahman.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| दैवम् daivam | to the gods |
| एव eva | alone |
| अपरे apare | some |
| यज्ञम् yajñam | sacrifice |
| योगिनः yoginaḥ | yogis |
| पर्युपासते paryupāsate | perform in worship |
| ब्रह्माग्नौ brahmāgnau | in the fire of Brahman brahma (Brahman) + agnau (in the fire) |
| अपरे apare | others |
| यज्ञम् yajñam | the self as sacrifice |
| यज्ञेन yajñena | by sacrifice |
| एव eva | indeed |
| उपजुह्वति upajuhvati | offer |
Word-wise Chanting
- dai–va–me–vā–pa–re ya–jñaṃ 8 syllables dai-va-me-vaa-pa-re ya-jnam
- yo–gi–naḥ par–yu–pā–sa–te | 8 syllables yo-gi-nah par-yu-paa-sa-te
- brah–māg–nā–va–pa–re ya–jñaṃ 8 syllables brah-maag-naa-va-pa-re ya-jnam
- ya–jñe–nai–vo–pa–juh–va–ti || 4-25 8 syllables ya-jne-nai-vo-pa-juh-va-ti
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 4 Verse 25
Context
Krishna describes a variety of spiritual practices as forms of sacrifice (4.25–4.30).
Meaning
Some practitioners worship the devas, the divine powers, through ritual. Others go further and offer their very self, the sense of individual existence, into the fire of Brahman, dissolving the ego in the infinite. Both are called yajña. The Gita widens the idea of sacrifice from ritual to every kind of spiritual offering.
The variety of sacrifices described in these verses shows that there are many ways to grow spiritually. What makes each one a yajña is the spirit of offering. The highest offering is the ego itself, given into the infinite.
In Practice
Reflect on what you could offer today: time, effort, a habit, or a small piece of your ego. Make the offering consciously.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga (Knowledge and Renunciation 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.