karma brahmodbhavaṁ viddhi brahmākṣhara-samudbhavam
tasmāt sarva-gataṁ brahma nityaṁ yajñe pratiṣhṭhitam
karma — duties;
brahma — in the Vedas;
udbhavam — manifested;
viddhi — you should know;
brahma — The Vedas;
akṣhara — from the Imperishable (God);
samudbhavam — directly manifested;
tasmāt — therefore;
sarva-gatam — all-pervading;
brahma — The Lord;
nityam — eternally;
yajñe — in sacrifice;
pratiṣhṭhitam — established
This verse tells us that the actions we do should follow the rules given in the Vedas, the ancient texts of wisdom. These texts are not just random instructions; they come from the Supreme Being, who is all-powerful and all-seeing. Think of the Vedas as a guidebook for life, showing us how to live in a way that means something and brings us closer to the divine.
When we talk about actions in this context, we mean those that are meant to please the Supreme Being, often referred to as Vishnu or Krishna. Just like in our daily lives we follow rules to avoid consequences (like obeying traffic lights to prevent accidents), we should follow the guidance given in the Vedas to avoid negative outcomes in our lives. If we ignore these rules and act without guidance, it leads to actions called 'vikarma,' which means wrong actions that can hurt us or others.
The verse emphasizes that the Vedas are not just important; they are directly connected to the Supreme Being. They are portrayed as coming from His very breath, much like how we breathe life into our words. This idea conveys how sacred and vital these instructions are. They guide us on how to work and what to aim for in our lives.
The Vedas structure our actions so we can fulfill our desires in a meaningful way. Many people wish for happiness and fulfillment in their lives; however, these feelings often lead them to chase temporary pleasures. The Vedic rules help us to enjoy life responsibly and ultimately encourage us to seek a higher purpose, one that leads back to a relationship with the divine.
The Vedic teachings provide a way for us to exhaust our worldly desires while steering us towards a lasting connection with God. They encourage us to engage in 'yajna,' which means acts of sacrifice or service that ultimately help us grow spiritually. So, even if we can't follow every detail of the Vedic rules perfectly, we can still embrace the spirit of serving and connecting with the divine through our actions.
In a nutshell, this verse reminds us that our work and actions should be aligned with the teachings of the Vedas, as these will help lead us to a fulfilling and harmonious life while ultimately guiding us back to our spiritual home.