Canto 7: The Science of GodChapter 14: Ideal Family Life

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 7.14.18

tasmād brāhmana-deveshu

martyādishu yathārhatah

tais taih kāmair yajasvainam

kshetra-jñam brāhmanān anu

SYNONYMS

tasmāt — therefore; brāhmana-deveshu — through the brāhmanas and the demigods; martya-ādishu — through ordinary human beings and other living entities; yathā-arhatah — according to your ability; taih taih — with all those; kāmaih — various objects of enjoyment such as sumptuous food, flower garlands, sandalwood paste, etc.; yajasva — you should worship; enam — this; kshetra-jñam — Supreme Lord situated in the hearts of all beings; brāhmanān — the brāhmanas; anu — after.

TRANSLATION

Therefore, my dear King, first offer prasāda unto the brāhmanas and the demigods, and after sumptuously feeding them you may distribute prasāda to other living entities according to your ability. In this way you will be able to worship all living entities — or, in other words, the supreme living entity within every living entity.

PURPORT

To distribute prasāda to all living entities, the process is that we must first offer prasāda to the brāhmanas and the Vaishnavas, for the demigods are represented by the brāhmanas. In this way the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated in everyone's heart, will be worshiped. This is the Vedic system of offering prasāda. Whenever there is a ceremony for distribution of prasāda, the prasāda is offered first to the brāhmanas, then to the children and old men, then to the women, and then to animals like dogs and other domestic animals. When it is said that Nārāyana, the Supreme Being, is situated in everyone's heart, this does not mean that everyone has become Nārāyana or that a particular poor man has become Nārāyana. Such a conclusion is rejected herein.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness