SB 8.16.55

Devanāgarī

दक्षिणां गुरवे दद्याद‍ृत्विग्भ्यश्च यथार्हत: । अन्नाद्येनाश्वपाकांश्च प्रीणयेत्समुपागतान् ॥ ५५ ॥

Text

dakṣiṇāṁ gurave dadyād ṛtvigbhyaś ca yathārhataḥ annādyenāśva-pākāṁś ca prīṇayet samupāgatān

Synonyms

dakṣiṇām—some contribution of money or gold;gurave—unto the spiritual master;dadyāt—one should give;ṛtvigbhyaḥca—and to the priests engaged by the spiritual master;yathā-arhataḥ—as far as possible;anna-adyena—by distributingprasāda;āśva-pākān—even to thecaṇḍālas,persons habituated to eating the flesh of dogs;ca—also;prīṇayet—one should please;samupāgatān—because they have assembled there for the ceremony.

Translation

One should satisfy the spiritual master and assistant priests by giving them cloth, ornaments, cows and also some monetary contribution. And by distributing prasāda one should satisfy everyone assembled, including even the lowest of men, the caṇḍālas [eaters of dog flesh].

Purport

In the Vedic system, prasāda is distributed, as recommended here, without discrimination as to who may take the prasāda. Regardless of whether one be a brāhmaṇa, śūdra, vaiśya, kṣatriya, or even the lowest of men, a caṇḍāla, he should be welcome to accept prasāda. However, when the caṇḍālas, the lower class or poorer class, are taking prasāda, this does not mean that they have become Nārāyaṇa or Viṣṇu. Nārāyaṇa is situated in everyone’s heart, but this does not mean Nārāyaṇa is a caṇḍāla or poor man. The Māyāvāda philosophy of accepting a poor man as Nārāyaṇa is the most envious and atheistic movement in Vedic culture. This mentality should be completely given up. Everyone should be given the opportunity to take prasāda, but this does not mean that everyone has the right to become Nārāyaṇa.

← SB 8.16.54 Chapter 16 SB 8.16.56 →