Topic

Food

2 verses from the Bhagavad Gita on food. Explore teachings across 2 chapters.

All Verses

Chapter 3 • Verse 14 →The Yoga of Action
Annnad bhavanti bhutani parjanyad anna-sambhavah, yajnad bhavati parjanyo yajnah karma-samudbhavah

Living beings are nourished by food; food is produced by rain; rain comes from sacrifice; and sacrifice is born from prescribed action. Thus the wheel of interdependence is set in motion.

  • •All life is interconnected through a cosmic chain
  • •Human action (karma) participates in sustaining creation
  • •Selfless action maintains the natural and cosmic order
cosmic cyclerainsacrificeinterdependence
Chapter 17 • Verse 7 →The Yoga of Threefold Faith
aharas tv api sarvasya tri-vidho bhavati priyah, yajnas tapas tatha danam tesam bhedam imam srinu

Food, sacrifice, austerity, and charity are each dear to people in different ways according to their nature. Krishna introduces the threefold classification of these four important spiritual activities.

  • •Food, sacrifice, austerity, and charity each have three modes
  • •One's guna-nature determines one's preferences in all areas of life
  • •Understanding these distinctions helps one refine spiritual practice
sacrificeausteritycharitygunas