|| 3.11 ||
देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु वः। परस्परं भावयन्तः श्रेयः परमवाप्स्यथ।।
devān bhāvayatānena te devā bhāvayantu vaḥ parasparaṁ bhāvayantaḥ śreyaḥ param avāpsyatha
Word by Word
devān (demigods) bhāvayatā (having pleased) anena (by this sacrifice) te (those) devāḥ (demigods) bhāvayantu (will please) vaḥ (you) parasparam (mutually) bhāvayantaḥ (pleasing one another) śreyaḥ (all-good) param (the supreme) avāpsyatha (you will achieve)
Translation
The demigods, being pleased by sacrifices, will also please you, and thus, by cooperation between men and demigods, prosperity will reign for all.
Meaning
Kṛṣṇa explains the symbiosis between humans and the higher powers, or demigods, who administer the natural world. By sacrifice, humans please the gods, and the gods, in turn, provide the rain, light, and resources needed for human life. This is the cosmic ‘Give and Take’.
Through this mutual cooperation (‘parasparaṁ bhāvayantaḥ’), everyone achieves prosperity and the ultimate good. The demigods are like departmental heads of the universe; they provide the supplies, but they expect the citizens to follow the laws of the King (God). Sacrifice is the act of recognizing this connection.
When we live in harmony with these natural and divine laws, society thrives. Kṛṣṇa is showing that Arjuna’s duty is part of this larger maintenance of the world. By refusing to fight, Arjuna is breaking the link of cooperation that keeps the universe stable and prosperous.