Desire, Reward & the Entrepreneur’s Responsibility

Desire, Reward & the Entrepreneur’s Responsibility: Lessons from Bhagavad Gita 3.12

Sanskrit Verse (3.12)

इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः ।

तैर्दत्तानप्रदायैभ्यो यो भुङ्क्ते स्तेन एव सः ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration iṣṭān bhogān hi vo devā dāsyante yajña-bhāvitāḥ tair dattān apradāyaibhyo yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ

Simple Translation “The higher forces will grant you the necessities of life when they are satisfied by your selfless actions. But one who enjoys these gifts without giving anything in return is, in truth, a thief.”

The Core Meaning (In Today’s Language)

Krishna delivers a powerful ethical principle here:

You cannot only take from the system — you must also give back to it.

Everything we enjoy — opportunity, resources, talent, markets, infrastructure — comes from a larger ecosystem. If we consume without contributing, we break the natural balance of growth.

For entrepreneurs, this verse is a clear warning against one-sided value extraction.

Why This Verse Matters Deeply in Entrepreneurship Desire

Modern business operates within an ecosystem:

• Customers
• Employees
• Vendors
• Investors
• Society
• Environment
• Government & infrastructure

Krishna’s message is simple and uncompromising:

If you benefit from the system, you carry a responsibility to serve the system.

Success without responsibility is not achievement — it is imbalance.

Entrepreneurial Interpretation of Gita 3.12

You Cannot Only “Take” from the Market

Revenue, brand recognition, talent, and growth are all gifts of the ecosystem. If a business only extracts profit without reinvesting in people or society, it weakens the very system it depends on.

Historical Example: Many short-lived corporations of the early industrial era collapsed because they exploited labor without reinvesting in worker welfare. In contrast, the Tata Group invested in employee housing, healthcare, and education long before it was mandated — and built a brand that has lasted over 150 years.

Giving Back Is Not Charity — It’s Business Wisdom

Krishna does not frame contribution as charity, but as dharma (duty). When businesses reinvest in:

• Employee growth – desire
• Fair trade practices
• Community development
• Environmental care

they stabilize their future.

Example: Infosys built internal training universities at scale. That reinvestment into people created a self-sustaining pipeline of global talent — a perfect example of “giving back what you receive.”

Consuming Without Contribution Leads to Instability

The verse uses a strong word — “thief” — not morally, but systemically. A person or organization that only consumes eventually loses trust, goodwill, and long-term sustainability.

Example: The collapse of several high-growth startups has shown this truth clearly:

• Rapid user acquisition
• Heavy capital consumption
• Zero ecosystem contribution Eventually leads to erosion of credibility and collapse.

True Wealth Is a Circular Flow

Wealth is not meant to stagnate. It must circulate — like energy in nature. Entrepreneurship desire is not just about “earning” — it’s about circulating value.

Example: Azim Premji converted a significant portion of his wealth into educational infrastructure through his foundation — not after retirement, but while actively leading corporate India. His business credibility only strengthened because of it.

Practical Lessons for Entrepreneurs from Gita 3.12

1. Ask This Question Regularly: “What am I giving back to the ecosystem I’m earning from?”
2. Invest in Your People Before Scaling Profits Skills, well-being, and trust compound faster than capital alone.
3. Build Fair, Not Just Fast Fair pricing, ethical sourcing, and transparent practices create long-term stability.
4. Make CSR a Culture, Not a Compliance Contribution must be part of your operating philosophy, not only a statutory requirement.
5. Create Circular Value Models Customers should benefit, employees should grow, and society should progress — along with shareholder returns.

A Quiet Truth for Founders

Profit without contribution creates imbalance. Contribution with profit creates civilization.

Gita 3.12 reminds us that entrepreneurship is not a license to consume endlessly — it is a responsibility to create, share, and sustain.

As founders and leaders, we must ask ourselves:

• Are we only beneficiaries of the system?
• Or are we also caretakers of the system that makes our success possible?

True entrepreneurial success is not measured only by valuation — it is measured by how many lives your success uplifts.

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