daivam evāpare yajñaṁ yoginaḥ paryupāsate brahmāgnāv apare yajñaṁ yajñenaivopajuhvati
"Some yogis worship by offering sacrifice to the gods; others offer sacrifice itself into the fire of Brahman."
What This Means:
Krishna begins describing different types of spiritual practice as 'sacrifice.' Some practitioners worship gods through rituals. Others, more advanced, offer the very act of sacrifice into the fire of Brahman—they've transcended ritual to realize the underlying reality.
Going Deeper:
'Daiva yajna' (sacrifice to gods) is external worship—valid but preliminary. 'Brahmagnau yajna' (sacrifice into the fire of Brahman) is internal—the offerings, fire, and act dissolve into the formless Absolute. This progression from external to internal, form to formless, represents spiritual maturation.
How To Apply This:
External worship (rituals, prayers to deities) is a good beginning. But don't stop there. Eventually, recognize that the worship itself is Brahman worshipping Brahman. The form points to the formless. Use ritual as a doorway, not a stopping point.
Key Sanskrit Terms: