Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 3, Verse 12

इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः। तैर्दत्तानप्रदायैभ्यो यो भुङ्क्ते स्तेन एव सः।।3.12।।

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

0:00 / --:--

Word Meanings

iṣhṭān—desired
bhogān—necessities of life
hi—certainly
vaḥ—unto you
devāḥ—the celestial gods
dāsyante—will grant
yajña-bhāvitāḥ—satisfied by sacrifice
taiḥ—by them
dattān—things granted
apradāya—without offering
ebhyaḥ—to them
yaḥ—who
bhuṅkte—enjoys
stenaḥ—thieves
eva—verily
saḥ—they
•••

Translation

The gods, nourished by the sacrifice, will give you the desired objects. So, he who enjoys the objects given by the gods without offering anything in return is indeed a thief.

•••

Commentary

3.12 इष्टान् desired? भोगान् objects? हि so? वः to you? देवाः the gods? दास्यन्ते will give? यज्ञभाविताः nourished by sacrifice? तैः by them? दत्तान् give? अप्रदाय without offering? एभ्यः to them? यः who? भुङ्क्ते enjoys? स्तेनः thief? एव verily? सः he.Commentary When the gods are pleased with you sacrifices? they will bestow on you all the desired objects such as children? cattle? property? etc.

He who enjoys what has been given to him by the gods? i.e.? he who gratifies the cravings of his own body and the senses without offering anything to the gods in return is a veritable thief. He is really a dacoit of the property of the gods.

12 of 43 verses