Verse 3.15

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 3.15:

कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि ब्रह्माक्षर-समुद्भवम् ।
तस्मात् सर्व-गतं ब्रह्म नित्यं यज्ञे प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥ १५ ॥

karma brahmodbhavaṃ viddhi brahmākṣara-samudbhavam |
tasmāt sarva-gataṃ brahma nityaṃ yajñe pratiṣṭhitam || 15 ||

karma–prescribed duties; brahma–from brahma, or the Vedas; udbhavam–originate; viddhi–you should know that; brahma–the Vedas; akṣara–from Acyuta, the infallible Supreme Lord; samudbhavam–originate; tasmāt–for this reason; sarva-gatam–the all-pervading; brahma–Supreme Absolute Truth; nityam–always; yajñe–in sacrifice; pratiṣṭhitam–situated.

Know that such duties are prescribed within the Vedas and that the Vedas originate from Bhagavān Acyuta. Therefore, the all-pervading Absolute Truth is always situated in the performance of yajña.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

The Vedas only are the cause of that prescribed action, because sacrifice is performed only after hearing Vedic injunctions. Acyuta, the infallible Absolute Reality, is the cause of the Vedas, because they originated from the Supreme.

In this regard it is said in the Vedas (Śrutis):

asya mahato bhūtasya niḥśvasitam etad
ṛg-vedo yajur-vedaḥ sāmavedo’tharvāṅgirasaḥ

Bṛhad-āraṇyaka Upaniṣad (4.5.11)

The Ṛg Veda, Yajur Veda, Sāma Veda and Atharva Veda are the breath of the Mahāpuruṣa.

Therefore, the all-pervading Supreme Lord is present in acts of sacrifice, or yajña. This statement also establishes that one can attain the Supreme by sacrifice. Although a connection of cause and effect has been shown here by linking food grains to brahma, still the scriptures describe that only sacrifice is the governing factor, and only sacrifice is glorified. Manu-smṛti also says, “Oblations offered in the fire reach Sūrya-deva, the sun-god. From the sun comes rain, from rain comes food grains, and from food grains, progeny is born.”

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

“Udyama-sthā sadā laksmīḥ–wealth always resides in endeavour.” Similarly, the all-pervading Supreme is always situated in sacrifice. By engaging in sacrifice and righteous acts, the jīva not only becomes free from sin but can also attain the Supreme.