Nourish the devas (divine forces/cosmic powers) through sacrifice, and let them nourish you in return. By this mutual nourishment, you shall attain the highest good.
Synthesis
This verse articulates the principle of cosmic reciprocity: humans sustain the divine order through conscious, sacrificial action, and the cosmic forces in turn sustain human life. It is an ecological and spiritual truth — we are embedded in cycles of giving and receiving that extend far beyond human society. When any part of the system hoards rather than contributes, the whole cycle breaks down. The verse elevates cooperation from a social nicety to a cosmic law. Madhva's Dvaita reads the devas as real beings within God's administrative hierarchy. Abhinavagupta sees the reciprocal flow between individual and universal consciousness. Vallabhacharya interprets the cycle as grace circulating through the Lord's design. Tilak extends the principle to all forms of civic and social cooperation. Vivekananda universalizes it as the foundational law of interconnected reality — service creates the conditions for one's own flourishing.
Commentaries 8 traditions
Shankara interprets the devas as the presiding deities of natural forces — rain, sun, wind. Nourishing them through yajna means participating in the cosmic cycle of giving that sustains the universe. This is not mere ritual but recognition of interdependence.
Apply This Verse
Personal Growth
Invest in the systems that support you — your community, your mentors, your environment. When you nourish what nourishes you, a self-sustaining cycle of growth emerges.
Questions this verse answers
- ?"Am I investing in the systems that support me?"
- ?"How do I give back to the community that helped me grow?"
- ?"What does cosmic reciprocity look like in daily life?"
- ?"Am I taking more than I'm giving from my environment?"