Bhagavad Gita BG 3.11
Chapter 3, Verse 11 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु वः । परस्परं भावयन्तः श्रेयः परमवाप्स्यथ ॥ ११ ॥
devān bhāvayatānena te devā bhāvayantu vaḥ parasparaṃ bhāvayantaḥ śreyaḥ param avāpsyatha
Meaning
Nourish the devas with this yajna, and let the devas nourish you in return. By mutually sustaining one another in this way, you shall all attain the highest good.
Understanding
This verse articulates the cosmic law of reciprocity that underlies the Vedic worldview. The devas (celestial forces governing sun, rain, fire, etc.) maintain the natural order that sustains life. Humans honour these forces through yajna; in return, the forces bless humans with rain, crops, and wellbeing. The word bhāvayata means 'nourish / cause to flourish' — it is an act of mutual flourishing, not transactional exchange. The phrase 'śreyaḥ param' (the highest good) elevates this beyond mere material exchange: participating in this cosmic cycle of giving is itself a spiritual path. Modern interpretations extend 'deva' to include all life-systems that sustain us — ecology, community, society.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| देवान् | devān | the devas / divine forces / gods |
| भावयत | bhāvayata | nourish / cause to flourish / sustain |
| परस्परम् | parasparam | mutually / each other / reciprocally |
| भावयन्तः | bhāvayantaḥ | nourishing one another / mutually sustaining |
| श्रेयः परम् | śreyaḥ param | the highest good / supreme welfare |
| आनेन | ānena | by this (sacrifice / mutual nourishment) |
| ते | te | those / they (the gods) |
| देवाः | devāḥ | the gods / the divine beings |
| वः | vaḥ | you / for you (plural) |
| अवाप्स्यथ | avāpsyatha | you shall attain / you will obtain |