Do any commentators interpret "from yajña arises rain" in BG 3.14 allegorically i.e., not involving a physical sacrifice, fire and smoke?

Question

Bg. 3.14

annād bhavanti bhūtāni
parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ
yajñād bhavati parjanyo
yajñaḥ karma-samudbhavaḥ

Rāmānuja's commentary on this verse points to a verse from Manusmṛti which is talking about oblations poured into fire:

'From sacrifice comes rain' this is known from the scriptures such as, 'The oblations offered in fire reach the sun, and from the sun comes rain' (Manu 3.76)

So also Śaṅkara's:

This accords with the Smrti, 'The oblations properly poured into fire reaches the sun. From the sun comes rain, from rain comes food, and from the sun comes rain, from rain comes food, and from that the creatures' (Ma.Sm.3.76).

Are there any commentaries that interpret "yajñād bhavati parjanyo" (from yajña arises rain) allegorically i.e., not involving literal fire and smoke?

_{Related (but not duplicate): What are the Yagnas Sri Krishna was referring to in Srimad Bhagavad Gita?}

Answer 1

In The Holy Geeta, Swami Chinmayanada interprets that verse/phrase in a metaphorical sense:

This stanza may appear strange to those who are not ready to bring the full shaft of their intelligence for the purpose of understanding it. It is evident to any modern educated man that living creatures are born out of matter. Matter is rendered consumable and digestible, nutritive and assimilable, only by the action of rains upon it. But the difficulty in understanding the stanza is when we come to the next assertion that 'the rains come as a result of Yajnas'.

But in Krishna's words here, we are not warranted in accepting that He is advising Arjuna to follow ritualism. In this stanza, as also elsewhere all along the Geeta, the familiar terms of the Vedic period have been charged with new meanings and significances. Rain is the essential condition for the conversion of the mineral raw material into enjoyable and nutritive food. Similarly, in all fields of activity there is an enjoyable profit which can be gathered only when, the fields come under conditions favourable for them to produce those profits. Self-dedicated activities (Yajna), when performed in any given field of endeavour, will be creating therein conditions necessary for the field to smile forth (rain) in a luxurious 'crop of profit' (Annam), enjoyable by the society.

He also gives an example:

For example, the wasteful waters of a river flowing idly can be dammed and made use of, if the water is intelligently employed in irrigating the fertile lands now lying fallow on its banks. Through sacrifice and work alone can the dam be built and when it is built, it provides 'conditions helpful' for bringing the lands on either side under the plough. Again, for making use of irrigated land, man has yet to strive by ploughing, sowing, weeding, wafting, gathering, before he can come to enjoy the profit of his activities — the food.

Answer 2

The word 'yajna' was allegorically used by Sri Bhagavan Himself:

श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज्ज्ञानयज्ञः परन्तप।

सर्वं कर्माखिलं पार्थ ज्ञाने परिसमाप्यते।।4.33।।

4.33 O destroyer of enemies, Knowledge considered as a sacrifice [Yajna] is greater than sacrifices[Yajna] offering materials. O son of Prtha, all actions in their totality culminate in Knowledge.

Answer 3

This is a good question. Before I answer it, I want to discuss a meta point. You are wondering in regards to this verse from Bhagavad Gita that what are other interpretations of this text? Now, in this modern age, every person can publish their own commentary and make a following based on zillion number of schools. However, if you really want to understand and apply the verse in your life. Then, we have to follow what Krishna says in chapter 4 in regards to understanding Gita. He mentions that this system of knowledge is accessed and understood through authorized sampradaya (disciplic succession). So inorder to understand various interpretations on Bhagavad Gita, we should look to Vaishnava acharyas and their commentaries. This would be supremely beneficial for the reader.

In the present day, the most prominent preacher was HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. His Bhagavad Gita is loved by millions. He writes:

The Lord can be satisfied by sacrifices; therefore, one who cannot perform them will find himself in scarcity – that is the law of nature. Yajña, specifically the saṅkīrtana-yajña prescribed for this age, must therefore be performed to save us at least from scarcity of food supply.

So the Yajna implies sacrifice. In different ages (Satya, Dwapara etc.), the sacrifices are prescribed for the time, place and circumstance. In the current age of Kali, the yajna recommended is Sankirtana - Yajna or congregational chanting of the holy names of Lord Krishna. (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.32).

Another reference is Ch 114 of 5th canto of Padma Purana which recommends the Yajna of chanting the holy names in the Kali yuga.

Krishna's words are not only authoritative but scientific. So I offer any reader an experiment. For a week, please chant for half hour daily and see the wonderful results in your life. Best if you can do with family or friends. :)

Answer 4

Do any commentators interpret "from yajña arises rain" in BG 3.14 allegorically i.e., not involving a physical sacrifice, fire and smoke?

Most people tend to translate the verses of the BG directly (padarth) without attempting to understand its spiritual import (bhavarth).

annad bhavanti bhutani parjanyad anna-sambhavah yajnad bhavati parjanyo yajna karma-samudbhavah

A superficial translation (padarth) would be that food becomes creatures, rain makes food possible, yajna makes rain possible, and karma is the root of yajna.

But this is BS, something that only Western indologists can do.

What's the bhavarth?

It is entirely spiritual. A cascade of cause and effect. Here's the cause-effect chain.

Brahman -> Annad -> Parjanya -> Karma -> Yajna -> Bhuta

Annad here is not "food" it is Vishnu, the essence of who we are. Parjanya is Bhava, the first flush of emotion in a mind previously at rest, and before it finds expression. Rain or cloud is just an analogy that demonstrates the quality of Parjanya, Bhava. Karma is our labour or effort. Yajna is the selfless dedication to finding "divine perfection" in our labour.

So what is the Bhavarth of 3.14?

It is only through selfless pursuit of divine perfection in work that our "divine essence" finds expression.