Yathora

The Gita · Chapter 3

Bhagavad Gita 3.12

इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः। तैर्दत्तानप्रदायैभ्यो यो भुङ्क्ते स्तेन एव सः॥

iṣhṭān bhogān hi vo devā dāsyante yajña-bhāvitāḥ tair dattān apradāyaibhyo yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ

Translation

"For, nourished by sacrifice, the Shining Ones shall bestow on you the enjoyments you desire." A thief verily is he who enjoyeth what is given by Them without returning Them aught.

What it means

Whoever enjoys what is given without giving back is called a thief. Consumption without contribution is theft at the level of ethics. Everything we enjoy was produced by a web of others.

Try this today

Taking from the shared system without contributing is defined plainly as theft.

Something to reflect on

What am I receiving that I never replenish?

Read it in Yathora
← 3.113.13 →

Translation by Annie Besant (1905, public domain). The meanings are original to Yathora, drawn from Shankara’s commentary.