Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.18.19
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyShare Peacefully and Remember the Lord's Mercy
“Taking the food gathered through begging, one should leave the populated areas and go to a reservoir of water in a secluded place. There, having taken a bath and washed one’s hands thoroughly, one should distribute portions of the food to others who may request it. One should do this without speaking. Then, having thoroughly cleansed the remnants, one should eat everything on one’s plate, leaving nothing for future consumption.”
What the purport teaches
- After gathering food, the renounced saint should go to a secluded place near water, bathe and thoroughly wash his hands.
- He should share with those who request food rather than argue or quarrel. The remaining food should then be offered to Lord Viṣṇu.
- He should eat silently, meditating on the Lord's mercy, and finish what is on his plate without saving food for future consumption.
Try this today
Eat a meal quietly today, spending a moment reflecting on the Lord's mercy.
Ask yourself
Can I respond peacefully when someone asks to share what I have?
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.