3.12 — The wheel of giving and receiving

Sanskrit · Teaching film · Everyday practice

Speaker: Krishna, addressing Arjuna.

The shloka

इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः ।
तैर्दत्तानप्रदायैभ्यो यो भुङ्क्ते स्तेन एव सः ॥ १२ ॥

Brief meaning

Sustained by offering, the gods grant the enjoyments people seek. One who enjoys their gifts without offering anything in return is called a thief.

In the conversation

Krishna describes creation itself as arising together with yajña. People sustain the gods through offering, and the gods sustain people in return. Life is presented as a web of mutual nourishment. One who receives its gifts and gives nothing back is called a thief. The language is sacred, and it speaks of reverence as much as exchange.

Word by word

इष्टान् भोगान् हि वः देवाः दास्यन्ते

The devas will give you the enjoyments you seek,

यज्ञभाविताः

nourished by yajña.

तैः दत्तान् अप्रदाय एभ्यः

Whoever enjoys their gifts without offering to them in return,

यः भुङ्क्ते स्तेनः एव सः

that one is surely a thief.

Going deeper

Prajāpati is the lord of creatures, the creator. The devas are the divine powers that sustain the world. The verb bhāvaya means to cause to flourish: people and the devas are meant to nourish one another. The word stena, thief, is strong on purpose. It describes taking life’s gifts with no gratitude and no return. Here yajña is reverence and reciprocity, not a bargain.

Everyday reflection

Think of the people who kept your household running when you were young, often without thanks. Much of what supports you now came to you as a gift: language, skills, food, shelter, kindness. Giving back is not a payment that clears a debt. It is a way of taking your place in the web that carried you. Who has given to you, and how could you give something back this week?

Consider today: Notice one gift you have been receiving without thanks.