Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 3/Verse 18

नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो नाकृतेनेह कश्चन ।
न चास्य सर्वभूतेषु कश्चिदर्थव्यपाश्रयः ॥३- १८॥

naiva tasya kṛtenārtho nākṛteneha kaścana ।

na cāsya sarvabhūteṣu kaścidarthavyapāśrayaḥ ॥3- 18॥

Indeed, of that one there is no aim with action nor with non-action and here of that one there is no need of support whatever of anyone in all beings. 


Word-for-word translations

na (adverb) (indeclinable) = not

eva (adverb) (indeclinable) = indeed

tasya (masculine, genitive, singular) = of that one

kṛtena (past passive participle, neuter, instrumental, singular) = with action

arthas (masculine, nominative, singular) = aim

na (adverb) (indeclinable) = not

akṛtena (past passive participle, neuter, instrumental, singular) = with non-action

iha (adverb) (indeclinable) = here

kaścana (adverb) (indeclinable) = anyone



na (adverb) (indeclinable) = not

ca (conjunction) (indeclinable) = and

asya (masculine, genitive, singular) = of that one

sarvabhūteṣu (masculine, locative, plural) = in all beings

kaścid (adverb) (indeclinable) = whatever 

arthavyapāśrayas (masculine, nominative, singular) = need of support

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 3/Verse 17

यस्त्वात्मरतिरेव स्यादात्मतृप्तश्च मानवः ।
आत्मन्येव च सन्तुष्टस्तस्य कार्यं न विद्यते ॥३- १७॥

yastvātmaratireva syādātmatṛptaśca mānavaḥ ।

ātmanyeva ca santuṣṭastasya kāryaṃ na vidyate ॥3- 17॥

But who, indeed, delights in the self, should be contented in the self and indeed, a human content in the self; of him nothing is found to be done. 


Word-for-word translations

yas (relative pronoun, masculine, nominative, singular) = who

tu (conjunction) (indeclinable) = but

ātmaratis (ātma + ratis) (compound) (feminine, nominative, singular) = delights in the self

eva (adverb) (indeclinable) = indeed

syāt (optative, 3rd person, singular) = one should be

ātmatṛptas (ātma + tṛptas) (compound) (past passive participle, neuter, nominative, singular) = one contented in the self 

ca (conjunction) (indeclinable) = and

mānavas (masculine, nominative, singular) = a human



ātmani (masculine, locative, singular) = in the self

eva (adverb) (indeclinable) = indeed

ca (conjunction) (indeclinable) = and

santuṣṭas (masculine, nominative, singular) = content

tasya (masculine, genitive, singular) = of him

kāryam (gerundive, neuter, nominative, singular) = to be done

na (adverb) (indeclinable) = not

vidyate (present tense, passive, 3rd person, singular) = it is found 

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 3/Verse 16

एवं प्रवर्तितं चक्रं नानुवर्तयतीह यः ।
अघायुरिन्द्रियारामो मोघं पार्थ स जीवति ॥३- १६॥

evaṃ pravartitaṃ cakraṃ nānuvartayatīha yaḥ ।

aghāyurindriyārāmo moghaṃ pārtha sa jīvati ॥3- 16॥

Thus set in motion, one who does not cause the wheel to turn in this world, that malicious and sense-delighted one lives vainly, O Pārtha. 


Word-for-word translations

evaṃ (adverb) (indeclinable) = thus

pravartitaṃ (past passive participle) (causative, neuter, accusative, singular) = set in motion

cakraṃ (neuter, accusative, singular) = wheel 

na (adverb) (indeclinable) = not

anuvartayati (causative, 3rd person, singular) = he causes to turn

iha (adverb) (indeclinable) = in this world

yas (masculine, nominative, singular) = one who



aghāyus (masculine, nominative, singular) = malicious 

indriyārāmas (masculine, nominative, singular) = sense-delighted 

mogham (adverb) (indeclinable) = vainly

pārtha (masculine, vocative, singular) = O Pārtha (Son of Prtha) (epithet of Arjuna) 

sa (masculine, nominative, singular) = that one

jīvati (present tense, 3rd person, singular) = he lives 

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 3/Verse 15

कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवम् ।
तस्मात्सर्वगतं ब्रह्म नित्यं यज्ञे प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥३- १५॥

karma brahmodbhavaṃ viddhi brahmākṣarasamudbhavam ।

tasmātsarvagataṃ brahma nityaṃ yajñe pratiṣṭhitam ॥3- 15॥

You must know action originates in Brahman [and] originating in the imperishable is Brahman! Therefore, the all-pervading Brahman is established in devotion. 


Word-for-word translations 

karma (neuter, accusative, singular) = action

brahmodbhavaṃ (adjective) (masculine, accusative, singular) = originates in Brahman (the all pervading spirit)

viddhi (imperative, 2nd person, singular) = you must know! 

brahmākṣarasamudbhavam (masculine, accusative, singular) = originating in the imperishable is Brahman  

tasmāt (adverb) (indeclinable) = therefore 

sarvagatam (neuter, nominative, singular) = all-pervading 

brahma (neuter, nominative, singular) = Brahman

nityam (adverb) (indeclinable) = eternally

yajñe (masculine, locative, singular) = in devotion 

pratiṣṭhitam (past passive participle) (neuter, nominative, singular) = established 

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 3/Verse 14

अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः ।
यज्ञाद्भवति पर्जन्यो यज्ञः कर्मसमुद्भवः ॥३- १४॥

annādbhavanti bhūtāni parjanyādannasambhavaḥ ।

yajñādbhavati parjanyo yajñaḥ karmasamudbhavaḥ ॥3- 14॥

Beings exist from sustenance. The production of food is from the rain. Rain exists from devotion. Devotion is produced from action. 


Word-for-word translations

annāt (neuter, ablative, singular) = from sustenance 

bhavanti (present tense, 3rd person, plural) = they exist 

bhūtāni (neuter, nominative, plural) = beings

parjanyāt (masculine, ablative, singular) = from rain

annasambhavas (masculine, nominative, singular) = the production of food



yajñāt (masculine, ablative, singular)  = from devotion 

bhavati (present indicative, 3rd person, singular) = exists 

parjanyas (masculine, nominative, singular) = rain

yajñas (masculine, nominative, singular) = devotion 

karmasamudbhavas (masculine, nominative, singular) = produced from action

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 3/Verse 13

यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषैः ।
भुञ्जते ते त्वघं पापा ये पचन्त्यात्मकारणात् ॥३- १३॥

yajñaśiṣṭāśinaḥ santo mucyante sarvakilbiṣaiḥ ।
bhuñjate te tvaghaṃ pāpā ye pacantyātmakāraṇāt ॥3- 13॥

Those good who partake the remainder of devotion are liberated from all evils. But the evil ones who enjoy sin, they create sustenance from a position of self-interest. 


Word-for-word translations

yajñaśiṣṭāśinas (yajñaśiṣṭa + āśinas) (compound) (masculine, nominative, plural) = they who partake the remainder of devotion

santas (adjective) (masculine, nominative, plural) = good 

mucyante (present tense, passive, 3rd person, plural) = they are liberated 

sarvakilbiṣais (sarva + kilbiṣais) (compound) (neuter, instrumental, plural) = from all evils

bhuñjate (present tense, 3rd person, plural) = they enjoy

te (pronoun, 3rd person, masculine, nominative, plural) = they

tu (conjunction) (indeclinable) = but

aghaṃ (neuter, accusative, singular) = sin

pāpās (adjective) (masculine, nominative, plural) = the evil ones

ye (relative pronoun, masculine, nominative, plural) = who

pacanti (present tense, 3rd person, plural) = they create sustenance 

ātmakāraṇāt (ātma + kāraṇāt) (compound) (neuter, ablative, singular) = from a position of self-interest

Commentary

This verse is typically translated with a literal ritual sacrifice tone or a metaphorical one involving devotion. I choose the latter given I am using the word "devotion" in place of the word "sacrifice" throughout the verses in this chapter. The essence of this verse is that one needs to act with a sense of devotion for all without doing things for one's own self-interest. 

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 3/Verse 12

Chapter 3/Verse 12

इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः ।
तैर्दत्तानप्रदायैभ्यो यो भुङ्क्ते स्तेन एव सः ॥३- १२॥

iṣṭānbhogānhi vo devā dāsyante yajñabhāvitāḥ ।
tairdattānapradāyaibhyo yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ ॥3- 12॥

The devotion produced gods will indeed give wished pleasures to you. With these [wished pleasures] one who enjoys not giving gifts to them [the gods], indeed, one is a thief. 

Word-for-word translations

iṣṭān (past passive participle) (adjective) (masculine, accusative, plural) = wished 

bhogān (masculine, accusative, plural) = pleasures 

hi (adverb) (indeclinable) = indeed

vas (pronoun, 2nd person, dative, plural) = to you

devās (masculine, nominative, plural) = the gods

dāsyante (future tense, 3rd person, plural) = they will give 

yajñabhāvitās (yajña + bhāvitās) (compound) (past passive participle) (adjective) (masculine, nominative, plural) = devotion produced

tais (pronoun, 3rd person, instrumental, plural) = with these

dattān (masculine, accusative, plural) = gifts

apradāya (gerund) (indeclinable) = not giving 

ebhyas (pronoun, masculine, dative, plural) = to them 

yas (relative pronoun, 3rd person, singular)  = one who

bhuṅkte (present tense, 3rd person, singular) = one enjoys

stenas (masculine, nominative, singular) = thief

eva (adverb) (indeclinable) = indeed

sas (pronoun, masculine, 3rd person, singular) = one

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 3/Verse 11

Chapter 3/Verse 11

देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु वः ।
परस्परं भावयन्तः श्रेयः परमवाप्स्यथ ॥३- ११॥

devānbhāvayatānena te devā bhāvayantu vaḥ ।
parasparaṃ bhāvayantaḥ śreyaḥ paramavāpsyatha ॥3- 11॥

By this you must cause the gods to be; they, the gods, must cause you to be. Causing each other to be, you shall attain the highest bliss. 

Word-for-word translations

devān (masculine, accusative, plural) = the gods

bhāvayata (causative imperative, 2nd person, plural) = you must cause to be

anena (demonstrative pronoun, masculine, instrumental, singular) = by this

te (pronoun, 3rd person, masculine, nominative, plural) = they

devās (masculine, nominative, plural) = the gods

bhāvayantu (causative, imperative, 3rd person, plural) = they must cause to be

vas (pronoun, 2nd person, accusative, plural) = you

parasparam (adverb) (indeclinable) = each other

bhāvayantas (causative, present participle, masculine, nominative, plural) = causing to be

śreyas (neuter, accusative, singular) = bliss

param (neuter, accusative, singular) = highest 

avāpsyatha (future tense, 2nd person, plural) = you shall attain 

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 3/Verse 10

Chapter 3/Verse 10

सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा पुरोवाच प्रजापतिः ।
अनेन प्रसविष्यध्वमेष वोऽस्त्विष्टकामधुक् ॥३- १०॥

sahayajñāḥ prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā purovāca prajāpatiḥ ।
anena prasaviṣyadhvameṣa vo'stviṣṭakāmadhuk ॥3- 10॥

Once upon a time having created progeny together with devotion, Prajāpati said "By this you will bring forth! This will be your wish fulfilling cow."


Word-for-word translations

sahayajñās (feminine, accusative, plural) = together with devotion

prajās (feminine, accusative, plural) = progeny

sṛṣṭvā (gerund) (indeclinable) = having created

purā (adverb) (indeclinable) = once upon a time 

uvāca (past tense, 3rd person, singular ) = said

prajāpatis (masculine, nominative, singular) = Prajāpati (Lord of Creation)

anena (demonstrative pronoun, masculine, instrumental, singular) = by this

prasaviṣyadhvam (future, imperative, 2nd person,  plural) = you will bring forth!

eṣa (demonstrative pronoun, masculine, nominative, singular) = this

vas (pronoun, 2nd person, genitive, plural) = your

astu (imperative, 3rd person, singular) = it will be

iṣṭakāmadhuk (feminine, nominative, singular) = wish fulfilling cow

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 3/Verse 9

Chapter 3/Verse 9

यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः ।
तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसङ्गः समाचर ॥३- ९॥

yajñārthātkarmaṇo'nyatra loko'yaṃ karmabandhanaḥ ।
tadarthaṃ karma kaunteya muktasaṅgaḥ samācara ॥3- 9॥

Aside from the action done for the means devotion, this world is bound by action. Free from attachment, you must accomplish action based on that means, O Son of Kunti.


Word-for-word translations

yajñārthāt (yajña + arthāt) (compound) (adjective) (masculine, ablative, singular) = the means of devotion

karmaṇas (neuter, ablative, singular) = from action

anyatra (adverb) (indeclinable) = aside from

lokas (masculine, nominative, singular) = world

ayam (demonstrative pronoun) (masculine, nominative, singular) = this

karmabandhanas (karma + bandhanas) (compound) (masculine, nominative, singular) = bound by action

tat (neuter, accusative, singular) = that

artham (masculine, accusative, singular) = means

karma (neuter, accusative, singular) = action

kaunteya (masculine, vocative, singular) = Son of Kunti (epithet of Arjuna)

muktasaṅgas (masculine, nominative, singular) = free from attachment

samācara (imperative, 2nd person, singular) = you must accomplish

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 3/Verse 8

Chapter 3/Verse 8

नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः ।
शरीरयात्रापि च ते न प्रसिद्ध्येदकर्मणः ॥३- ८॥

niyataṃ kuru karma tvaṃ karma jyāyo hyakarmaṇaḥ ।
śarīrayātrāpi ca te na prasiddhyedakarmaṇaḥ ॥3- 8॥

You must perform controlled action. Action is better, indeed, than inaction. And even the maintenance of your body ought not be accomplished from inaction. 


Word-for-word translations

niyataṃ (past passive participle) (masculine, accusative, singular)  = controlled

kuru (imperative, 2nd person, singular) = you must perform!

karma (neuter, accusative, singular) = action

tvaṃ (pronoun, 2nd person, nominative, singular) = you

karma (neuter, nominative, singular) = action

jyāyas (comparitive) = better

hi (adverb) (indeclinable) = indeed

akarmaṇas (ablative of comparison) (neuter, ablative, singular) = than inaction

śarīrayātrā (śarīra + yātrā) (compound) (feminine, nominative, singular) = maintenance of the body

api (adverb) (indeclinable) = even

ca (conjunction) (indeclinable) = and

te (pronoun, 2nd person, genitive, singular) = of your

na (indeclinable) = not

prasiddhyet (optative, 3rd person, singular) = ought to be accomplished

akarmaṇas (neuter, ablative, singular) = from inaction

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 3/Verse 7

Chapter3/Verse 7

यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन ।
कर्मेन्द्रियैः कर्मयोगमसक्तः स विशिष्यते ॥३- ७॥

yastvindriyāṇi manasā niyamyārabhate'rjuna ।
karmendriyaiḥ karmayogamasaktaḥ sa viśiṣyate ॥3- 7॥

But who having controlled the senses by the mind, unattached one commences the yoga of action by the senses of action, O Arjuna, That one is superior.


Word-for-word translations

yas (pronoun, 3rd person, masculine, nominative, singular) = who

tu (conjunction) (indeclinable) = but

indriyāṇi (neuter, accusative, plural) = senses

manasā (neuter, instrumental, singular) = by the mind

niyamya (gerund) (indeclinable) = having controlled 

ārabhate (present indicative) (3rd person, singular) = one commences 

arjuna (masculine, vocative, singular) = O Arjuna

karmendriyais (neuter, instrumental, plural) = by the senses of action

karmayogam (masculine, accusative, singular) = the yoga of action

asaktas (past passive participle) (masculine, nominative, singular) = unattached 

sa (pronoun, 3rd person, masculine, nominative, singular) = that one

viśiṣyate (passive, 3rd person, singular) = one is superior 

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 3/Verse 6

Chapter 3/Verse 6

कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन् ।
इन्द्रियार्थान्विमूढात्मा मिथ्याचारः स उच्यते ॥३- ६॥

karmendriyāṇi saṃyamya ya āste manasā smaran ।
indriyārthānvimūḍhātmā mithyācāraḥ sa ucyate ॥3- 6॥

One who sits restraining the senses of action remembering the objects of the senses by the mind; it is said, that deluded self is a hypocrite.

Word-for-word translations

karmendriyāṇi (neuter, accusative, plural) = the senses of action 

saṃyamya (gerund) (indeclinable) = restraining 

ya (masculine, nominative, singular) = who

āste (present indicative, 3rd person, singular) = one sits

manasā (neuter, instrumental, singular) = by the mind

smaran (present participle) (masculine, nominative, singular) = remembering 

indriyārthān (masculine, accusative, plural) = objects of the senses

vimūḍha (past passive participle) = deluded 

ātmā (masculine, nominative, singular) = self

mithyācāras (masculine, nominative, singular) = hypocrite

sa (pronoun, 3rd person, masculine, nominative, singular) = that

ucyate (present indicative, passive, 3rd person, singular) = it is said