Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.17.50
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyDaily Sacrifice and Complete Devotional Shelter
“One in the gṛhastha order of life should daily worship the sages by Vedic study, the forefathers by offering the mantra svadhā, the demigods by chanting svāhā, all living entities by offering shares of one’s meals, and human beings by offering grains and water. Thus considering the demigods, sages, forefathers, living entities and human beings to be manifestations of My potency, one should daily perform these five sacrifices.”
What the purport teaches
- A householder should honor sages through Vedic study, forefathers with svadhā, and demigods with svāhā. Sharing meals with living entities and offering grains and water to people complete the five daily sacrifices.
- These recipients are manifestations of the Lord’s potency. The purport explains that these sacrifices counteract the exploitation of material nature by those who are not pure devotees.
- One who fully takes shelter of Mukunda and seriously follows the devotional path owes no separate duties to these recipients. Full-time loving service to the Lord leaves no further sacrifices to perform.
Try this today
Share a portion of food today, remembering the recipient as a manifestation of the Lord’s potency.
Ask yourself
How can my daily responsibilities become more centered on loving service to the Lord?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.