Bhagavad Gita - Daily - II CHAPTER 3-14 II

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Gita 3-14 & 15

 

annad bhavanti bhutani, parjanyad anna-sambhavah

yajnad bhavati parjanyo, yajnah karma-samudbhavah || 3-14 ||

 

karma brahmodbhavam viddhi, brahmakshara-samudbhavam

tasmat sarva-gatam brahma, nityam yajne pratisthitam || 3-15 ||

 

 

" From food creatures come into being, food is produced from rain, rain ensues

from sacrifice (Yajna) and sacrifice comes from action. Know that the origin of

action (of sacrifice) to be in Brahma (the Veda) and Brahma springs from the

Imperishable (God). Therefore, the all pervading Infinite (God) ever vests in

the sacrifice (Yajna). "

 

From " Gita Prabodhani " in Hindi by Swami Ramsukhdasji.

 

 

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Chapter 3, Verse 14 is as follows;

 

Annaat = from food

Bhavanti = come forth

Bhootaani = living beings

Parjanyaat = from rain

Anna-SambhavaH = production of food

Yadnyaat = from sacrifice

Bhavati = arises

ParjanyaH = rain

YadnyaH = sacrifice

Karma-Sama-Ud-BhavaH = born of action

 

 

English translation:-

 

From food beings come forth, from rain food is produced, from sacrifice rain

arises and sacrifice is born of action.

 

Comment:

 

As per verse 76 in the chapter 3 in Manu SmrutiH, " Living beings are born of the

consumed food that is transformed in to blood and semen. Food is produced by

rain which is a product of sacrifice. "

 

Every selfless action performed with the right frame of mind, gets converted in

to Yadnya i.e. sacrifice. The effect of every such selfless action assumes a

subtle force which in the Vedic parlance is known as `Apurva' i.e. the one not

found earlier. Every oblation faithfully dedicated to the Fire God, rises up in

the air and goes to the Sun God. Rain is due to the Sun and food is due to the

Rain. Of food, living beings are born. Sacrifice is the unique power engendered

by the selfless activities performed by the priests and the sacrificing Sadhaks.

Therefore, sacrifice is born of selfless actions. Yadnya i.e. sacrifice is

considered to play the pivotal role in balancing the unmanifest and manifest

Brahman. Therefore, the all pervading Brahman rests in a balanced state in

Yadnya i.e. sacrifice.

 

Wherever agricultural and manufactured products are found in plenty, there

exists exuberance of life as flora i.e. all types of plants as well as fauna

i.e. all kinds of creatures, birds, animals and human beings.

 

Lord Krishna has cited the Water Cycle and Carbon Cycle to illustrate the

concept of sacrifice in the backdrop of the then predominantly agriculture based

ancient India about 5,000 years ago.

 

The Water Cycle:

 

It is powered by the solar energy. The Sun in our planetary system drives the

water cycle. The Sun rays heat water in all water reservoirs including the

oceans. Water evaporates as vapor into the air. Ice and snow can sublimate

directly into water vapor. Evapotranspiration is water transpired from plants

and evaporated from the soil. Rising air currents take the vapor up into the

atmosphere where cooler temperatures cause it to condense into clouds. Air

currents move clouds around the globe; cloud particles collide, grow, and fall

out of the sky as precipitation in the form of snowfall or rains. Some

precipitation falls as snow and can accumulate as ice caps and glaciers, which

can store frozen water for thousands of years. Snow thaws and melts, and the

melted water flows over land in the form of rivers. The rivers enrich the soil

along their banks and food is generated for all beings. Ultimately the rivers

merge into the oceans, where our Water Cycle had initially started. This process

is a continuous process in the nature since time immemorial. Here the Sun and

the rivers are eloquent testimonies of the process of Yadnya i.e. sacrificial

actions for the benefit of the entire beings.

 

The Carbon cycle:

 

The Global warming is a serious issue that we are confronted with due to

excessive generation of Carbon Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide, which is a highly

toxic gas. In 1850, atmospheric Carbon Dioxide was about 280 parts per million

(ppm) and as of March 2009, Carbon Dioxide is at a concentration of 387 ppm by

volume. This is an alarming 38.21% rise in last 158 years. It is indeed a

serious issue of man-made disaster, which is eventually going to threaten the

very existence of the entire flora and fauna on the earth.

 

The four basic regions of the carbon cycle are the earth (lithosphere), the air

(atmosphere), the oceans (hydrosphere), and all living organisms (biosphere).

Plants (from algae to trees) absorb Carbon Dioxide from the air (atmosphere) in

photosynthesis. Many forms of marine life absorb Carbon Dioxide from the oceans

(hydrosphere) to make their shells. All plants and animals release Carbon

Dioxide into their surrounding environment during respiration. Plants and

animals also release Carbon when they die and decay. The burning (combustion) of

fossil fuels also releases Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere. Humans affect the

Carbon cycle through the incessant deforestation of land as it leads to lesser

cloud cover and lesser rains. The expected long range effects of recent climate

change are already being observed. Rising sea levels, glacier retreat, Arctic

shrinkage, and altered patterns of agriculture are cited as direct consequences

of selfish human activities. This is indeed a path of self destruction. The fine

balance between the nature and all the living beings can be maintained provided,

we as human beings control our selfish, brutish and wolfish tendencies.

 

In this verse, Lord Krishna narrates the Cosmic Wheel of co-operative action. He

compares the ritual of fire-worship with selfless dedicated activities. All

living beings are born out of the conversion of energy into matter. Matter is

rendered consumable, digestible, nutritive and assimilable only by the action of

rains. Rain water is the necessary and essential condition for the conversion

of matter into enjoyable food. It reminds me of " RasaH Aham Apsu " i.e. I am the

sapidity in waters as per verse 8 in chapter 7 of Shreemad Bhagawad Geeta.

 

The principle of right action and even the motive power to act has sprung from

the Creator of the entire Universe. The Creator is none other than the

Imperishable Supreme Brahman. Action is evident in every new born baby. Action

is the gift of the Creator. Therefore, the all pervading Param-Aatman is ever

centered in all undertakings pursued by every Sadhak in the spirit of " Bahu Jana

Hitaaya, Bahu Jana Sukhaaya " i.e. for the benefit and welfare of all.

 

Thanks & Best Regards,

Shrikant Joshi

 

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