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Chapter 3 · Karma-yoga · 43 verses

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Duty & actionChapter 3 · Karma-yoga
3.123.14

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 3.13

The cycle of sacrifice and duty

यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषै ।

भुञ्जते ते त्वघं पापा ये पचन्त्यात्मकारणात् ॥ १३ ॥

yajña-śiṣṭāśinaḥ santo

mucyante sarva-kilbiṣaiḥ

bhuñjate te tv aghaṁ pāpā

ye pacanty ātma-kāraṇāt

Translation

The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins because they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice. Others, who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Offer Food to the Lord

  1. 1Devotees who eat food first offered in sacrifice are freed from all sins. Those who cook for their own enjoyment eat only sin.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that devotees love Kṛṣṇa and offer everything to Him before accepting it. Their devotional service protects them from sinful contamination.
  3. 3Before eating, offer your food to Kṛṣṇa rather than preparing it only for your own enjoyment.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 3, Karma-yoga: the cycle of sacrifice and duty.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Act dutifully without attachment to fruits.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Sacrifice / offering

Food received in a spirit of sacrifice is discussed.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 3.13 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to duty & action?

Practice

Do one task today purely because it is right.

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The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 3 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 3.9Work as sacrificeBG 4.24Transcendental understanding of actionBG 3.10The cycle of sacrifice and dutyBG 3.11The cycle of sacrifice and dutyBG 2.47Responsibility without ownership of outcomes

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

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Ask about BG 3.13 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.