Bhagavad Gita · Verse 3.15
Chapter 3: Karma Yoga (कर्मयोगः)
(The Supreme Lord said)
कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवम् । तस्मात्सर्वगतं ब्रह्म नित्यं यज्ञे प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥१५॥
karma brahmodbhavaṃ viddhi brahmākṣarasamudbhavam | tasmātsarvagataṃ brahma nityaṃ yajñe pratiṣṭhitam ||15||
Complete Shloka Translation
Understand action as having Brahman as its source, and Brahman as having the Imperishable as its source. Thus all-pervading Brahman continually abides in sacrifice.
Word-by-Word Translation (Padartha / Anvaya)
| Sanskrit Term (पद) | IAST Roman | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ब्रह्म | brahma | Brahman, read here as the Veda |
| अक्षर | akṣara | the Imperishable |
| कर्म | karma | [term] in context of Understand action as having Br... |
| ब्रह्मोद्भवं | brahmodbhavaṃ | [term] in context of Understand action as having Br... |
| विद्धि | viddhi | [term] in context of Understand action as having Br... |
| ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवम् | brahmākṣarasamudbhavam | [term] in context of Understand action as having Br... |
| तस्मात्सर्वगतं | tasmātsarvagataṃ | [term] in context of Understand action as having Br... |
| नित्यं | nityaṃ | [term] in context of Understand action as having Br... |
| यज्ञे | yajñe | [term] in context of Understand action as having Br... |
| प्रतिष्ठितम् | pratiṣṭhitam | [term] in context of Understand action as having Br... |
| १५ | pratiṣṭhitam | [term] in context of Understand action as having Br... |
Brahman, read here as the Veda
the Imperishable
[term] in context of Understand action as having Br...
[term] in context of Understand action as having Br...
[term] in context of Understand action as having Br...
[term] in context of Understand action as having Br...
[term] in context of Understand action as having Br...
[term] in context of Understand action as having Br...
[term] in context of Understand action as having Br...
[term] in context of Understand action as having Br...
[term] in context of Understand action as having Br...
Detailed Commentary & Meaningful Thoughts
In this reading, Brahman denotes the Veda, the sacred authority for action; akshara denotes the Imperishable. The term's meanings vary by commentary tradition and require review.
Philosophical Reflection & Self-Inquiry
"The sustaining cycle is grounded in sacred knowledge and the Imperishable."
Inquiry Question to Ponder:
Why does context matter when the same philosophical word has several meanings?
Modern Life Implementation (Practical Real-Life Application)
Apply this verse in your daily career and work life: discharge your responsibilities wholeheartedly as an act of service and social welfare, freeing your mind from selfish anxiety and burnout.