In Bhagavad Gita 4.30, Krishna says others, regulating their food, offer the life-breaths into the life-breaths; all these know sacrifice and are cleansed of impurities by it.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अपरे नियताहाराः
प्राणान्प्राणेषु जुह्वति
सर्वेऽप्येते यज्ञविदो
यज्ञक्षपितकल्मषाः ॥ ४-३० ॥
apare niyatāhārāḥ
prāṇānprāṇeṣu juhvati
sarve’pyete yajñavido
yajñakṣapitakalmaṣāḥ
English transliteration apare niyataahaaraah
praanaanpraaneshu juhvati
sarve’pyete yajnavido
yajnakshapitakalmashaah ॥ 4.30 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Others, regulating their food, offer their life-breaths into the life-breaths. All of these are knowers of sacrifice, and their impurities are destroyed by sacrifice.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अपरे apare | others |
| नियताहाराः niyatāhārāḥ | regulating their food niyata (regulated) + āhārāḥ (food) |
| प्राणान् prāṇān | life-breaths |
| प्राणेषु prāṇeṣu | into the life-breaths |
| जुह्वति juhvati | offer |
| सर्वे sarve | all |
| अपि api | also |
| एते ete | these |
| यज्ञविदः yajñavidaḥ | knowers of sacrifice yajña (sacrifice) + vidaḥ (knowers) |
| यज्ञक्षपितकल्मषाः yajñakṣapitakalmaṣāḥ | whose impurities are destroyed by sacrifice yajña (sacrifice) + kṣapita (destroyed) + kalmaṣāḥ (impurities) |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–pa–re ni–ya–tā–hā–rāḥ 8 syllables a-pa-re ni-ya-taa-haa-raah
- prā–ṇān–prā–ṇe–ṣu juh–va–ti | 8 syllables praa-naan-praa-ne-shu juh-va-ti
- sar–ve–‘pye–te ya–jña–vi–do 8 syllables sar-ve-‘pye-te ya-jna-vi-do
- ya–jña–kṣa–pi–ta–kal–ma–ṣāḥ || 4-30 8 syllables ya-jna-ksha-pi-ta-kal-ma-shaah
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 30
Context
Krishna concludes his list of sacrifices (4.25–4.30) and affirms their value.
Meaning
Some purify themselves through regulated diet, niyata-āhāra, which refines the vital energies. Krishna then sums up: all these practitioners are yajña-vids, knowers of sacrifice. Whatever their particular method, their impurities, kalmaṣa, are burned away by the spirit of offering.
The Gita’s generosity toward different practices is striking. It does not demand one method for everyone. What purifies is not the specific technique but sincere offering. Diet, breath, study, charity and meditation can all lead to inner cleansing.
In Practice
Bring mindfulness to your next meal: eat with moderation and gratitude, as a form of offering.
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.