BG 4.31
They partake in the sacred nectar which remains after a sacrifice, and reach the eternal Brahma. This world is not for those who refuse to sacrifice. How can the heavens be any different?
नायं लोकोऽस्त्ययज्ञस्य कुतो़ऽन्यः कुरुसत्तम
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yajña-śhiṣhṭāmṛita-bhujo — partake of the nectar remaining from sacrifice
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yajña — prayer, sacrifice
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śhiṣhṭāmṛita — remaining nectar
From śiṣṭa (शिष्ट), meaning "remnant", and amṛtā (अमृत) referring to a sacred offering -
bhujo — arm
Nominative singular of bhuja (भुज), implying the partaking of sacred alms (prasāda) after a ritual
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yānti — go
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brahma — the Absolute Truth
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sanātanam — eternal
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nāyaṁ — never this
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loko — world
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’styayajñasya — is for one who performs no sacrifice
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kuto — how
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’nyaḥ — another
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kuru-sattama — Arjuna
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kuru — Kuru
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sattama — most respectable
सत्तम
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Some sages perform sacrifice to the gods alone, while others offer themselves as sacrifice on the eternal altar. Some sacrifice their physical senses in the fire of self-control, while others sacrifice contact with external objects in the sacrificial fire of their senses. Others, kindled by wisdom, sacrifice their activities and their breathing into the fire of self-restraint. With self-control and firm resolve, others sacrifice their material wealth and perform austerities. Some ascetics take rigid vows, offering the study of scriptures and knowledge as sacrifice. Others, with a controlled diet, are devoted to the control of breathing. One may sacrifice inhalation to exhalation, or sacrifice the outward breath to an inward one, or sacrifice all of their incoming and outgoing breathing. Others regulate their diet and subsist on what remains after sacrifice. All such people, who understand the principle of sacrifice, have their sins washed away. They partake in the sacred nectar which remains after a sacrifice, and reach the eternal Brahma. This world is not for those who refuse to sacrifice. How can the heavens be any different?
Similar verses
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Those pious souls who study the Vedas, drink the Soma juice, worship me with sacrifice and pray for passage to heaven, will enjoy the celestial pleasures of gods.
- Verse 9.20
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When they have enjoyed the vastness of heaven, having exhausted the result of their pious activities, they fall back to the mortal realm. Thus, those who seek sensual pleasure by only adhering to Vedic principles only achieve the cycle of birth and death.
- Verse 9.21
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But the fruit gained by such people of limited insight is perishable. The worshippers of the celestial gods will go to the gods, while my devotees come to me.
- Verse 7.23
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Some sages perform sacrifice to the gods alone, while others offer themselves as sacrifice on the eternal altar.
- Verse 4.25
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All the worlds, including the abode of Brahma, are subject to this cycle of return. But for whoever comes to me, there is no rebirth.
- Verse 8.16