Chapter 3: Karma Yoga, verse 12
इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः।
तैर्दत्तानप्रदायैभ्यो यो भुङ्क्ते स्तेन एव सः ॥
Say itiṣhṭān bhogān hi vo devā dāsyante yajña-bhāvitāḥ
tair dattān apradāyaibhyo yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ
Translation
The gods, nourished by the sacrifice, will give you the desired objects. So, he who enjoys the objects given by the gods without offering anything in return is indeed a thief.
Swami Sivananda
'Being nourished by sacrifices, the gods will indeed give you the coveted enjoyments. He is certainly a thief who enjoys what has been given by them without offering it to them.'
Swami Gambirananda
Follows the commentary of Shankara (Advaita).
The gods, pleased by the sacrifice, will bestow upon you the enjoyments you desire. He who enjoys the bounty of the gods without giving them anything in return is but a thief.
Swami Adidevananda
Follows the commentary of Ramanuja (Vishishtadvaita).
The devas, gratified with necessary action, will grant you the things sacrificed. Therefore, whoever enjoys their gifts without offering them to these devas is surely a thief.
Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
Follows the commentary of Abhinavagupta (Kashmir Shaivism).
For, fed by sacrifice, nature will give you all the enjoyment you desire. But he who enjoys what she gives without returning is, indeed, a thief.
Shri Purohit Swami
यज्ञसे भावित (पुष्ट) हुए देवता भी तुमलोगोंको (बिना माँगे ही) कर्तव्य-पालनकी आवश्यक सामग्री देते रहेंगे। इस प्रकार उन देवताओंसे प्राप्त हुई सामग्रीको दूसरोंकी सेवामें लगाये बिना जो मनुष्य स्वयं ही उसका उपभोग करता है, वह चोर ही है।
Swami Ramsukhdas
यज्ञ द्वारा पोषित देवतागण तुम्हें इष्ट भोग प्रदान करेंगे। उनके द्वारा दिये हुये भोगों को जो पुरुष उनको दिये बिना ही भोगता है वह निश्चय ही चोर है।
Swami Tejomayananda
Classical commentariesFor deeper study. Most are in the original Sanskrit.
Advaita
Non-dual: the self and the absolute are one.
Vishishtadvaita
Qualified non-dual: souls are real parts of the divine.
Dvaita
Dual: the soul and God are eternally distinct.
Shuddhadvaita
Pure non-dual, centred on grace and devotion.
Kashmir Shaivism
The Gita read through Trika Shaiva philosophy.
Modern teachers
20th-century teachers writing for today's readers.