Bhagavad Gita BG 3.15
Chapter 3, Verse 15 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवम् । तस्मात्सर्वगतं ब्रह्म नित्यं यज्ञे प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥ १५ ॥
karma brahmodbhavaṃ viddhi brahmākṣara-samudbhavam tasmāt sarva-gataṃ brahma nityaṃ yajñe pratiṣṭhitam
Meaning
Know that action (karma) originates from the Vedas (Brahman), and the Vedas originate from the imperishable Absolute (Akṣara Brahman). Therefore the all-pervading Brahman is ever established in yajna.
Understanding
Krishna now traces the causal chain upward to its ultimate source. Karma arises from the Vedas (here called Brahman in its aspect as cosmic order/scripture); the Vedas arise from Akṣara Brahman, the imperishable Absolute. The word 'akṣara' means 'that which does not decay' — the eternal ground of all existence. Therefore, since yajna is built from karma which comes from Brahman, yajna is where Brahman eternally resides. This completes the cosmic picture: the practice of yajna is not a human invention but a participation in the eternal self-expression of the Absolute. Every selfless act is, in this sense, a manifestation of the imperishable.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ब्रह्मोद्भवम् | brahmodbhavam | originating from Brahman / born of the Vedic order |
| अक्षरसमुद्भवम् | akṣara-samudbhavam | arising from the Imperishable / from Akṣara Brahman |
| सर्वगतम् | sarva-gatam | all-pervading / present everywhere |
| नित्यम् | nityam | eternally / always |
| प्रतिष्ठितम् | pratiṣṭhitam | established / resting / present |
| कर्म | karma | action (is born of Brahman) |
| विद्धि | viddhi | know / understand (imperative) |
| ब्रह्म | brahma | Brahman / the Absolute |
| तस्मात् | tasmāt | therefore |
| यज्ञे | yajñe | in sacrifice / at the yajna |