Bhagavad Gita -Srila Prabhupada 137

Shrimad Bhagavad Gita As It Is -Shri Shrimad A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

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Karma-yoga
Chapter 3: Verse-12

istan bhogän hi vo devä
däsyante yajna-bhävitäh
tair dattän apradäyaibhyo
yo bhunkte stena eva sah[1]

TRANSLATION

In charge of the various necessities of life, the demigods, being satisfied by the performance of yajna [sacrifice], will supply all necessities to you. But he who enjoys such gifts without offering them to the demigods in return is certainly a thief.

PURPORT

The demigods are authorized supplying agents on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu. Therefore, they must be satisfied by the performance of prescribed yajnas. In the Vedas, there are different kinds of yajnas prescribed for different kinds of demigods, but all are ultimately offered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. For one who cannot understand what the Personality of Godhead is, sacrifice to the demigods is recommended. According to the different material qualities of the persons concerned, different types of yajnas are recommended in the Vedas. Worship of different demigods is also on the same basis—namely, according to different qualities. For example, the meat-eaters are recommended to worship the goddess Käli, the ghastly form of material nature, and before the goddess the sacrifice of animals is recommended. But for those who are in the mode of goodness, the transcendental worship of Visnu is recommended. But ultimately all yajnas are meant for gradual promotion to the transcendental position. For ordinary men, at least five yajnas, known as panca-mahä-yajna, are necessary. One should know, however, that all the necessities of life that the human society requires are supplied by the demigod agents of the Lord. No one can manufacture anything.


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References

  1. istan=desired; bhogän=necessities of life; hi=certainly; vah=unto you; deväh=the demigods; däsyante=will award; yajna-bhävitäh=being satisfied by the performance of sacrifices; taih=by them; dattän=things given; apradäya=without offering; ebhyah=to these demigods; yah=he who; bhunkte=enjoys; stenah=thief; eva=certainly; sah=he.

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