FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Bhagavad-gītā 3.11

దేవాన్భావయతాతేన తే దేవా భావయన్తు వః । పరస్పరం భావయన్తః శ్రేయః పరమవాప్స్యథ ॥ ౧౧ ॥
devān bhāvayatānena
[devaan bhaavayataanena]
te devā bhāvayantu vaḥ
[te devaa bhaavayantu vah]
parasparaṁ bhāvayantaḥ
[parasparam bhaavayantah]
śreyaḥ param avāpsyatha
[shreyah param avaapsyatha]
Word-for-word
devān — demigods bhāvayatā — having pleased anena — by this sacrifice te — those devāḥ — demigods bhāvayantu — will please vaḥ — you parasparam — mutually bhāvayantaḥ — pleasing one another śreyaḥ — benediction param — the supreme avāpsyatha — you will achieve .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
devān bhāvayatānena
devān
demigods
bhāvayatā
having pleased
anena
by this sacrifice
te devā bhāvayantu vaḥ
te
those
devāḥ
demigods
bhāvayantu
will please
vaḥ
you
parasparaṁ bhāvayantaḥ
parasparam
mutually
bhāvayantaḥ
pleasing one another
śreyaḥ param avāpsyatha
śreyaḥ
benediction
param
the supreme
avāpsyatha
you will achieve .
Important Words
  • devān — demigods
    Accusative plural. The administrators of the cosmic departments — Indra over rain, Sūrya over light, Agni over fire. The verse acknowledges hierarchy: humans are not at the top of the supply chain.
  • bhāvayatā — having pleased, having caused to flourish
    From √bhū, causative — to cause to be. Yajña doesn't just placate the devas; it causes them to *flourish*. The cosmic order is not zero-sum.
  • parasparam — mutually
    The central word of the verse. Param + param — one-and-the-other. The universe is reciprocal at its core; the modern fiction of self-sufficiency runs against this grain.
  • śreyaḥ — benediction, real benefit
    The same śreyas Arjuna asked for in 3.2 — but here it is delivered in a social, cosmic form. The supreme good is not extracted in isolation; it arises within the circle of mutual pleasing.
The demigods, being pleased by sacrifices, will also please you, and thus, by cooperation between men and demigods, prosperity will reign for all.
Purport

The demigods are empowered administrators of material affairs. The supply of air, light, water and all other benedictions for maintaining the body and soul of every living entity is entrusted to the demigods, who are innumerable assistants in different parts of the body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Their pleasures and displeasures are dependent on the performance of yajñas by the human being. Some of the yajñas are meant to satisfy particular demigods; but even in so doing, Lord Viṣṇu is worshiped in all yajñas as the chief beneficiary. It is stated also in the Bhagavad-gītā that Kṛṣṇa Himself is the beneficiary of all kinds of yajñas: bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasām. Therefore, ultimate satisfaction of the yajña-pati is the chief purpose of all yajñas. When these yajñas are perfectly performed, naturally the demigods in charge of the different departments of supply are pleased, and there is no scarcity in the supply of natural products. Performance of yajñas has many side benefits, ultimately leading to liberation from material bondage. By performance of yajñas, all activities become purified, as it is stated in the Vedas: āhāra-śuddhau sattva-śuddhiḥ sattva-śuddhau dhruvā smṛtiḥ smṛti-lambhe sarva-granthīnāṁ vipramokṣaḥ. By performance of yajña one’s eatables become sanctified, and by eating sanctified foodstuffs one’s very existence becomes purified; by the purification of existence finer tissues in the memory become sanctified, and when memory is sanctified one can think of the path of liberation, and all these combined together lead to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the great necessity of present-day society.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
11. “By that sacrifice, please the devatās and the devatās will please you. Being mutually pleased, you will all attain the highest benefit.”
Commentary

This verse explains how the yajṣa yields all desires. “By this yajṣa (anena), please the devatās. You make them pleased by the sacrifice. The devatās also will please all of you.” Bhāva indicates affection in this verse.

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
11. “By that sacrifice, please the devatās. May the devatās please you. Being mutually pleased, you will both attain the highest benefit, liberation.”
Commentary

Viṣṇu also said to the created beings, “Please the devatas headed by Indra, who are the limbs of My body, by offering oblations to them (anena). May the devas please you by bestowing benedictions. You and they, being mutually pleased with the pure food, will attain the highest benefit in the form of liberation (param śreyaḥ).” In this regard, pure food is one element or aṅga of cultivation of jṣāna. The śruti says: āhāra-śuddhau sattva-śuddhiḥ sattva-śuddhau dhruvā smṛtiḥ smṛti-labdhe sarva-granthīnāṁ vipramokṣaḥ By pure food one attains pure mind. By pure mind, the intelligence becomes fixed. With good intelligence, one is freed from all obstacles. Chāndogya Upaniṣad 7.26.2

Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Commentary

This is a cooperative business but it is legitimate by the Vedas to satisfy one's desires.

Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

COMMON THEME: How our desire can be fulfilled in material world by demigod worship

Demigods being pleased by sacrifices will please the living entities; thus by co-operation between men and demigods prosperity will reign over all (3.11)
Without yajna, one is a thief – One who enjoys the gifts without offering them to the demigods is certainly a thief (3.12)
Focus of Learning

(a) “Who are demigods (3 different definitions)

Empowered administrators of material affairs
Innumerable assistants in different parts of the body of Supreme Personality of Godhead
Authorized supplying agents on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead

(b) Function of the demigods (3.11)

Supply all the benedictions necessary to keep body & soul together
Their pleasure and displeasure depend on the performance of yajna

(c) Chief purpose of all yajnas – Ultimate satisfaction of Yajna-pati “Vishnu” (3.11) – Ref. Bg. 5.29

“bhoktaram…”

(d) Benefits of “yajna” (3.11)

No scarcity of the supply of natural products – thus happiness in this world is guaranteed
Side Benefits: Gradual purification to help ultimate liberation – this happens in the following steps: When eatables are sanctified by yajna Existence is Purified  Finer tissues in memory are sanctified Thus one can think of path of liberation  All these combined lead to Krishna Consciousness, the great necessity of present day society

(e) For whom, sacrifice to demigods is recommended, if ultimate beneficiary is supposed to be

Vishnu

This is for one who cannot understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead

(f) Basis of different yajnas – They are recommended based on different modes of different person.

Ultimate Goal of all yajnas is gradual promotion to transcendental position

(g) All material necessities come through yajna e.g.

All eatables, either vegetarian or non-vegetarian (because all animals subsist on vegetation)
Heat, light, water, air etc.
All manufacturing enterprises

PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF TEXT 3.11 – 3.12

This entire process is designed to foster a mood of dependence and service within the hearts of materialistic people
With this goal in mind Krishna explains that those who receive the fruits of sacrifice without recognizing (and consequently offering back to) the Lord and the demigods, is a thief partaking of sinful life

LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 3.12 & 3.13: Arjuna, however, could think, “I don’t need yajnas, demigods and

opulent necessities of life. Nor must I perform yajnas to live. I will go to the forest and live by begging. I

won’t take from the demigods, so I won’t be sinful by not offering yajnas to them. Not only won’t I be a thief,

but I won’t take part in this ghastly, sinful warfare.”

Krishna replies in the next two verses. Krishna in Text 3.14 especially warns Arjuna that even in the forest, all

food is nurtured by rain coming from the demigods. Therefore he cannot avoid his obligation to perform the

sacrifices born of his prescribed duty.

Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
3.11 'Bhavayata, you nourish; devan, the gods, Indra and others; anena, with this sarifice. Let te devah, those gods; bhavayantu, nourish; vah, you-make you contented with rainfall etc. Thus bhavayantah, nourishing; parasparam, one another; avapsyatha, you shall attain; the param, supreme; sreyah, Good, called Liberation, through the attainment of Knowledge;' or, 'you shall attain heaven-which is meant by param 'sreyah.' [The param sreyah (supreme Good) will either mean liberation or heaven in accordance with aspirant's hankering for Liberation or enjoyment.] Moreover,
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
3.11 'By this,' i.e., by this sacrifice, you propitiate the gods who form My body and have Me as their Self. For Sri Krsna will say later on: 'For I am the only enjoyer and the only Lord of Sacrifices' (9.24). Worshipped by sacrifices, may these gods, who have Me as their Self, nourish you with food, drink etc., which are reired also for their worship. Thus, supporting each other, may you attain the highest good called Moksa (release).
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
3.11 Devan etc. Devas : Those that have a tendency of playing i.e., the deities who preside over the organs and who dwell in the senses (or who are nothing but the sensitive faculty of the senses) and who are well-known in the Rahasyasastra. 'You must gratify these deities by this action i.e., feed them compability with sense-objects. Then, being satisfied, let these deities gratify (cause) you to have emancipation suitable exclusively to the intrinsic nature of the Self. For, [then alone you attain] a capacity to remain in your own Self. Thus when the mutual gratification - you gratifying the [deities of the] senses, and they letting [you] be absorbed in the Self - in the uninterruped series of periods of being extrovert and of meditation, you shall soon undoubtedly attain the highest good i.e., the Supreme that is marked with the total disappearance of [all] mutual differences.' This path of the said nature is to be followed not merely for emancipation, but also for gaining all super - human powers (or success siddhi). This [the Lord] says -
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
3.11 With this do ye nourish the gods and may those gods nourish you; thus nourishing one another, ye shall attain to the highest good.
Commentary

3.11 देवान् the gods? भावयत nourish (ye)? अनेन with this? ते those? देवाः gods? भावयन्तु may nourish? वः you? परस्परम् one another? भावयन्तः nourishing? श्रेयः good? परम् the highest? अवाप्स्यथ shall attain.Commentary Deva literally means the shining one. By this sacrifice you nourish the gods such as Indra. The gods shall nourish you with rain? etc. the highest good is the attainment of the knowledge of the Self which frees one from the round of births and deaths. The highest good may mean the attainment of heaven also. The fruit depends upon the motive of the aspirant.

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
3.11 'You nourish the gods with this. Let those gods nourish you. Nourishing one another, you shall attain the supreme Good.'
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
3.11 Worship the Powers of Nature thereby, and let them nourish you in return; thus supporting each other, you shall attain your highest welfare.
Related values & verses
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Abhaya (Fearlessness)
Related verses
BG 3.12 BG 3.14 BG 7.22 SB 4.14.18 SB 4.19.1 SB 8.16.21 CC Adi 3.77 CC Madhya 20.218 CC Madhya 22.117 Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 1.4.16Taittirīya Upaniṣad 1.11.2
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
By yajña humans please the demigods, who in turn nourish humans — the universe runs on reciprocal generosity.
Practical Applications
  • Acknowledge dependence — your food, breath, sunlight all come through cosmic kindness.
  • Practice gratitude as a regular discipline, not just a feeling.
  • Reciprocate with offering rather than with entitlement.
Reflection Questions
  • What gifts of nature do I take without acknowledgement?
  • What small daily offering could complete the cycle?
Analogy

A village and the rain-bearing clouds keep each other alive — the village offers smoke and gratitude upward, the clouds return water and grain. Cut either side and both perish. The universe is a circulating courtesy.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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