In Bhagavad Gita 4.31, Krishna says those who eat the nectar-like remnants of sacrifice reach eternal Brahman; this world is not for one who does not sacrifice, still less the next.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यज्ञशिष्टामृतभुजो
यान्ति ब्रह्म सनातनम्
नायं लोकोऽस्त्ययज्ञस्य
कुतोऽन्यः कुरुसत्तम ॥ ४-३१ ॥
yajñaśiṣṭāmṛtabhujo
yānti brahma sanātanam
nāyaṃ loko’styayajñasya
kuto’nyaḥ kurusattama
English transliteration yajnashishtaamritabhujo
yaanti brahma sanaatanam
naayam loko’styayajnasya
kuto’nyah kurusattama ॥ 4.31 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Those who partake of the nectar that remains after sacrifice attain the eternal Brahman. This world is not for one who does not sacrifice; how then the other, O best of the Kurus?
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यज्ञशिष्टामृतभुजः yajñaśiṣṭāmṛtabhujaḥ | those who eat the nectar remaining after sacrifice yajña (sacrifice) + śiṣṭa (remnant) + amṛta (nectar) + bhujaḥ (eaters) |
| यान्ति yānti | attain |
| ब्रह्म brahma | Brahman |
| सनातनम् sanātanam | eternal |
| न na | not |
| अयम् ayam | this |
| लोकः lokaḥ | world |
| अस्ति asti | is |
| अयज्ञस्य ayajñasya | of one who does not sacrifice |
| कुतः kutaḥ | how |
| अन्यः anyaḥ | the other |
| कुरुसत्तम kurusattama | O best of the Kurus |
Word-wise Chanting
- ya–jña–śiṣ–ṭā–mṛ–ta–bhu–jo 8 syllables ya-jna-shish-taa-mri-ta-bhu-jo
- yān–ti brah–ma sa–nā–ta–nam | 8 syllables yaan-ti brah-ma sa-naa-ta-nam
- nā–yaṃ lo–ko–‘stya–ya–jñas–ya 8 syllables naa-yam lo-ko-‘stya-ya-jnas-ya
- ku–to–‘nyaḥ ku–ru–sat–ta–ma || 4-31 8 syllables ku-to-‘nyah ku-ru-sat-ta-ma
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 31
Context
Krishna describes the fruit of the life of sacrifice described in 4.24–4.30.
Meaning
What remains after a sacrifice is called amṛta, nectar of immortality. Those who live on such remnants, receiving life as a blessed gift after first offering, reach sanātana Brahman, the eternal. In contrast, one who never sacrifices finds no fulfilment even in this world, let alone in the higher worlds.
The verse echoes 3.13. A life of giving is fulfilling here and now; a life of taking is empty even in its pleasures. Offering transforms ordinary experience into nectar.
In Practice
Today, before enjoying something, first give a portion of your time or resources to others. Then enjoy the rest as nectar.
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.