Complete learning edition. The Sanskrit source remains separate from attributed word meanings, translation, explanation and commentary witnesses. Diagrams and memory aids are study tools, not replacements for the source text.
देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु वः। परस्परं भावयन्तः श्रेयः परमवाप्स्यथ।।3.11।।
devān bhāvayatānena te devā bhāvayantu vaḥ parasparaṁ bhāvayantaḥ śhreyaḥ param avāpsyatha
Worship the powers of Nature, and let them nourish you in return; thus, supporting each other, you shall attain your highest welfare.
English rendering by Shri Purohit Swami. Each source voice remains named.
Build the sentence from its parts
Read across once, then cover the meanings and recover them from the Sanskrit forms.
| Sanskrit form | Meaning here |
|---|---|
| devān | celestial gods |
| bhāvayatā | will be pleased |
| anena | by these (sacrifices) |
| te | those |
| devāḥ | celestial gods |
| bhāvayantu | will be pleased |
| vaḥ | you |
| parasparam | one another |
| bhāvayantaḥ | pleasing one another |
| śhreyaḥ | prosperity |
| param | the supreme |
| avāpsyatha | shall achieve |
Deva literally means the shining one. By this sacrifice you nourish the gods such as Indra.
Attributed explanatory witness: Swami Sivananda. Chapter lens: Distinguish action, duty, sacrifice, example, desire and attachment without treating karma-yoga as inactivity.
Three named reading witnesses
Śaṅkara edition witness
Swami Gambirananda'You nourish the gods with this. Let those gods nourish you in return. By mutually nourishing each other, you shall attain the supreme Good.'
Rāmānuja edition witness
Swami AdidevanandaBy this, please the gods, and they will support you. Thus, nourishing each other, you may obtain the highest good.
Sivananda commentary witness
Swami SivanandaDeva literally means the shining one. By this sacrifice you nourish the gods such as Indra.
These are concise, attributed reading witnesses from identified editions. They are presented for comparison and are not merged into one anonymous interpretation.
Meaning map
Follow the thought
- 1
Worship the powers of Nature
- 2
let them nourish you in return
- 3
thus, supporting each other, you shall attain your highest welfare
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Distinguish action, duty, sacrifice, example, desire and attachment without treating karma-yoga as inactivity.
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- 3
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