Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 3: The Path of Action

Bhagavad Gita 3.12

इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः । तैर्दत्तानप्रदायैभ्यो यो भुङ्क्ते स्तेन एव सः ॥

iṣṭānbhogānhi vo devā dāsyante yajñabhāvitāḥ | tairdattānapradāyaibhyo yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ ||

"Nourished by sacrifice, the gods will give you the enjoyments you desire. One who enjoys their gifts without offering anything in return is nothing but a thief."

Modern context

Whoever enjoys what he has been given without giving anything back is called a thief. It is a strong word for a common habit: taking air, water, food, knowledge and other people's labour as though they were owed to us. The verse asks us to see consumption as a debt that is paid by contributing.