Bhagavad Gita 3.15
Karma Yoga · English Translation
कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवम् | तस्मात्सर्वगतं ब्रह्म नित्यं यज्ञे प्रतिष्ठितम् ||३-१५||
karma brahmodbhavaṃ viddhi brahmākṣarasamudbhavam . tasmātsarvagataṃ brahma nityaṃ yajñe pratiṣṭhitam ||3-15||
What Does This Verse Mean?
In this verse, Lord Krishna explains to Arjuna the divine origin of action and duty. He teaches that all human actions (Karma) arise from the sacred knowledge found in the Vedas (Brahma), which itself originates from the eternal Supreme Reality (Akshara). Therefore, true spiritual life is established when we recognize this cycle and perform our duties as a form of sacrifice or offering to the Divine.
The Teaching Behind It
This verse is foundational to Karma Yoga (the path of selfless action) and Sankhya philosophy, which distinguishes between the eternal soul and temporary actions. It establishes the concept that all activity is rooted in a divine source, transforming mundane duty into spiritual practice when performed with awareness of its origin.
Word by Word
Classical Commentary
Where This Happens
This verse occurs on the battlefield of Kurukshetra during the Mahabharata epic. Lord Krishna is speaking to Prince Arjuna, who has just fallen into deep despair and refused to fight his own relatives in a war he believes will cause destruction. After explaining that the soul is eternal, Krishna pivots to explain how action itself is divine, reassuring Arjuna that fighting as part of his duty is not sin but a cosmic necessity.
Living It Out Today
Consider a project manager facing an impossible deadline with a difficult team; instead of feeling overwhelmed or avoiding responsibility, they view the task as 'Yajna' (sacrifice) by focusing on service to their company and colleagues rather than personal gain. By shifting focus from anxiety about the outcome to the integrity of the action itself, the stress transforms into purposeful energy. This mindset turns a high-pressure corporate crisis into an opportunity for spiritual growth through selfless work.
Explained for Children
Imagine that your family has specific jobs like cooking dinner or cleaning up after meals. If you do these chores just because someone told you to, it might feel boring, but if you realize those rules come from love and help everyone stay safe together, doing them becomes special! Krishna is saying the same thing: our good actions are part of a big plan that helps the whole world work like one happy family.
Daily Reflection
You often feel burdened by your responsibilities, yet this verse reminds you that action itself is woven into the fabric of the divine. When you understand that your work stems from an eternal source and returns to it through selfless service, the weight of 'doing' transforms into a lightness of being. You are not separate from the flow; every moment offers you a chance to rest in sacrifice by letting go of personal ownership over the results.
A Practice for Today
Close your eyes and visualize your daily actions not as isolated tasks, but as ripples originating from the same divine source that created them. Breathe deeply while acknowledging that just as Brahma rests in sacrifice (Yajna), every act you perform can become a sacred offering when done with awareness.
Key Teachings
- The Divine Origin of Action
All activities (karma) originate from the Vedas, which are themselves an expression of the eternal Brahman. This establishes that no action exists outside the divine order; even our choices to act or not act are part of this cosmic rhythm. - The Cycle of Sacrifice
Brahma is established in Yajna (sacrifice), meaning the universe sustains itself through a continuous exchange of giving and receiving. When we perform actions as offerings, we align our individual will with this universal law of reciprocity. - The Imperishable Source
The Vedas arise from the Akshara (the Indestructible One), grounding all transient duties in an eternal reality. This teaches us to anchor our temporary efforts in something unchanging, providing stability amidst the flux of worldly life.
Themes
Related Verses
Read This Next
- 2.47 — This verse expands on performing duty without attachment to results, building directly on the concept of selfless action.
- 3.30 — Krishna instructs Arjuna to surrender all actions to Him, completing the thought that Brahma rests in sacrifice through devotion.
- 12.15 — This verse describes the qualities of a devotee who is dear to Krishna, showing how one embodies the spirit of this chapter's teachings in character.
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