अपरे नियताहाराः प्राणान्प्राणेषु जुह्वति ।
सर्वेऽप्येते यज्ञविदो यज्ञक्षपितकल्मषाः ॥
सर्वेऽप्येते यज्ञविदो यज्ञक्षपितकल्मषाः ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
दूसरे कितने ही प्राणायामके परायण हुए योगीलोग अपानमें प्राणका पूरक करके, प्राण और अपानकी गति रोककर फिर प्राणमें अपानका हवन करते हैं तथा अन्य कितने ही नियमित आहार करनेवाले प्राणोंका प्राणोंमें हवन किया करते हैं । ये सभी साधक यज्ञोंद्वारा पापोंका नाश करनेवाले और यज्ञोंको जाननेवाले हैं ॥
English
Some offer the breath into the breath through regulated breathing; some, with regulated food, offer the life-forces into the life-forces. All of them know sacrifice, and sacrifice has washed away their impurities.
What this verse means
Some people discipline their breathing, and some control their eating and life-energy. All of them are sincere practitioners of sacrifice, and that practice cleanses them.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna is frozen while Krishna explains many forms of disciplined offering. After describing different sacrifices, Krishna adds this verse to show that even breath-control and regulated eating are valid offerings that purify the practitioner.
Why this verse still matters
You skip the second coffee, keep your breathing steady, and stop feeding your nerves with more noise. Quiet discipline can be its own offering.
The takeaway
There is dignity in disciplined practice. Even hidden, inward effort can purify a person.
Word-by-word translation
अपरे (others) / नियताहाराः (regulated in food) / प्राणान् (breaths) / प्राणेषु (into breaths) / जुह्वति (offer) / सर्वे (all) / अपि (indeed) / एते (these) / यज्ञविदः (knowers of sacrifice) / यज्ञक्षपितकल्मषाः (whose impurities are destroyed by sacrifice)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga — Knowledge and Renunciation of Action, which contains 42 verses.
Explore related themes: yajna (32 verses)