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Chapter 17 · The Divisions of Faith · 28 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Nature & guṇasChapter 17 · The Divisions of Faith
17.917.11

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 17.10

Food and sacrifice in the modes

Prakṛti · Material nature

यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत् ।

उच्छिष्टमपि चामेध्यं भोजनं तामसप्रियम् ॥ १० ॥

yāta-yāmaṁ gata-rasaṁ

pūti paryuṣitaṁ ca yat

ucchiṣṭam api cāmedhyaṁ

bhojanaṁ tāmasa-priyam

Translation

Food prepared more than three hours before being eaten, food that is tasteless, decomposed and putrid, and food consisting of remnants and untouchable things is dear to those in the mode of darkness.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Food and Spiritual Purity

  1. 1

    Food prepared over three hours earlier, tasteless or rotten food, remnants, and untouchable things are dear to those in the mode of darkness.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that prasādam—food offered to the Lord—is transcendental and is not subject to the three-hour limit.

  3. 3

    Prepare food according to scripture and offer it to the Supreme Lord with love and devotion.

Key points from the purport

Foods in the mode of ignorance

Food prepared more than three hours before being eaten

Except the Prasadam offered to the Lord

Food that is tasteless, decomposed and putrid

Food consisting of remnants and untouchable things

Except the remnants of Supreme Lord or saintly persons, especially spiritual master

Otherwise remnants increase infection or disease

a

Purpose of food

Increase the duration of life

Purify the mind

Aid in bodily strength

b

Authority — Past authorities selected foods according to above mentioned purposes e.g. Milk products, rice, wheat, sugar etc. (Some foods like baked corn and molasses can be made pleasant when mixed with milk and other foods)

c

Fatty foods and proteins

Only animal fat of milk is allowed

This is the civilized method of obtaining the needed fat

It rules out any need for animal slaughter

Sub-human way – Fat from animal slaughter

Proteins are available from split-peas, dal, whole-wheat etc.

d

The best food — Remnants of Supreme Personality of Godhead

Only way to make food anti-septic, eatable and palatable for all persons is to offer food to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and accept remnants

Ref. Bg. 9.26 – “Patram, pushpam…” – Love and devotion are the chief things that the Lord accepts

2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yāta-yāmamfood cooked three hours before being eaten
  2. gata-rasamtasteless
  3. pūtibad-smelling
  4. paryuṣitamdecomposed
  5. caalso
  6. yatthat which
  7. ucchiṣṭamremnants of food eaten by others
  8. apialso
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: prakṛti, guṇa.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 17.10 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to nature & guṇas?

Practice

Observe which mode shaped your last decision.

5

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 17 ›
6

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 17.8Food and sacrifice in the modesBG 17.9Food and sacrifice in the modesBG 7.14Crossing beyond māyā
Live this todayThe Austerity of SpeechA practice from BG 17.15, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 4 of 9 · 10 minChapters & storiesGo chapter by chapter, with the Mahābhārata stories that explain what is happening.Back · LearnPrabhupāda's Introduction