FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.18.19

बहिर्जलाशयं गत्वा तत्रोपस्पृश्य वाग्यत: । विभज्य पावितं शेषं भुञ्जीताशेषमाहृतम् ॥ १९ ॥
bahir jalāśayaṁ gatvā
[bahir jalaashayam gatvaa]
tatropaspṛśya vāg-yataḥ
[tatropasprishya vaag-yatah]
vibhajya pāvitaṁ śeṣaṁ
[vibhajya paavitam shesham]
bhuñjītāśeṣam āhṛtam
[bhunjeetaashesham aahritam]
Word-for-word
bahiḥ — outside of urban areas, in a secluded place jala — of water āśayam — to a reservoir gatvā — going tatra — there upaspṛśya — being purified by contact with water vāk-yataḥ — without speaking vibhajya — duly distributing pāvitam — purified śeṣam — remnants bhuñjīta — one should eat aśeṣam — completely āhṛtam — gathered by begging.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
bahir jalāśayaṁ gatvā
bahiḥ
outside of urban areas, in a secluded place
jala
of water
āśayam
to a reservoir
gatvā
going
tatropaspṛśya vāg-yataḥ
tatra
there
upaspṛśya
being purified by contact with water
vāk-yataḥ
without speaking
vibhajya pāvitaṁ śeṣaṁ
vibhajya
duly distributing
pāvitam
purified
śeṣam
remnants
bhuñjītāśeṣam āhṛtam
bhuñjīta
one should eat
aśeṣam
completely
āhṛtam
gathered by begging.
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.
Purport

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura explains that a saintly person should not argue or quarrel with materialistic persons who may request or demand part of his foodstuff. The word vibhajya indicates that one should give something to such persons to avoid disturbance, and then, offering the remnants to Lord Viṣṇu, one should eat everything on one’s plate, without saving food for the future. The word bahiḥ indicates that one should not eat in a public place, and vāg-yata indicates that one should eat silently, meditating upon the Lord’s mercy.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Taking the food gathered through begging, he should leave the populated areas and go to a reservoir of water. There, performing ācamana, in silence he should purify the food and distribute portions. He should eat everything he has begged, leaving no remnants. One should distribute part of the food to Viṣṇu, Brahmā, the sun and living entities. One should not leave remnants to keep for eating later.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Take the gathered food to a secluded water spot, bathe, wash hands, share portions with others who ask, and eat in silence. Eating becomes a quiet, distributed sacrament.
Reflection Questions
  • When did I last eat in true silence?
  • What does sharing my own food before eating do to it?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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