Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.13.47
Sthāna· The universe in orderSpiritual Life Begins With Responsible Eating
“Those who are devoid of hands are prey for those who have hands; those devoid of legs are prey for the four-legged. The weak are the subsistence of the strong, and the general rule holds that one living being is food for another.”
What the purport teaches
- One living being is food for another under the supreme will. No material planning can make anyone completely safe from a stronger living being.
- Human life is meant for self-realization and obedience to scripture. Food prepared from vegetables, fruits, leaves, grains and milk can be offered to the Lord and then accepted as prasāda.
- Exploitation of the weak can be checked by awakening spiritual consciousness. Teaching peaceful coexistence while slaughtering weaker animals does not follow spiritual regulative principles.
Try this today
Offer a piece of fruit to the Lord with devotion before accepting it as prasāda.
Ask yourself
How can my food choices support self-realization and greater care for other living beings?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.