| Canto 7: The Science of God | Chapter 14: Ideal Family Life |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 7.14.18
martyādishu yathārhatah
tais taih kāmair yajasvainam
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