offerings of clarified butter while repeating sacred verses. At the end of
the worship, food, a portion of which would have been offered in the
fire, is distributed among all those who participate. Food is received,
but only after it is worshipfully offered. Giving precedes receiving.
Krishna uses the image and example of the agnihotra to inculcate the
value and necessity for reciprocal living, characterized by generosity
with one’s abilities and talents. Just as we make offerings into the
fire, we offer to the world the gifts of our abilities and talents before
receiving from the world that which we require for our own needs and
prosperity. If we all selfishly appropriate from the world without generous
self-giving, resources, both human and natural, will be depleted.
Prosperity, in the words of Bhagavadgita 3:11, is the consequence of
mutual caring and nourishing each other (parasparam bhavayantah).
In some of the strongest language of the text (3:12) Krishna describes
the person who appropriates the resources of the world without returning
anything as a thief. Such thoughtless exploitation is unjust and
results in suffering. It is the antithesis of dedication to the common
good (lokasamgraha).