FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.14.17

न ह्यग्निमुखतोऽयं वै भगवान्सर्वयज्ञभुक् । इज्येत हविषा राजन्यथा विप्रमुखे हुतै: ॥ १७ ॥
na hy agni-mukhato ’yaṁ vai
[na hy agni-mukhato ’yam vai]
bhagavān sarva-yajña-bhuk
[bhagavaan sarva-yajna-bhuk]
ijyeta haviṣā rājan
[ijyeta havishaa raajan]
yathā vipra-mukhe hutaiḥ
[yathaa vipra-mukhe hutaih]
na — not hi — indeed agni — fire mukhataḥ — from the mouth or the flames ayam — this vai — certainly bhagavān — Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa sarva-yajña-bhuk — the enjoyer of the results of all kinds of sacrifices ijyeta — is worshiped haviṣā — by offering of clarified butter rājan — O King yathā — as much as vipra-mukhe — through the mouth of a brāhmaṇa hutaiḥ — by offering him first-class food.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
na hy agni-mukhato ’yaṁ vai
na
not
hi
indeed
agni
fire
mukhataḥ
from the mouth or the flames
bhagavān sarva-yajña-bhuk
ayam
this
vai
certainly
bhagavān
Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa
ijyeta haviṣā rājan
sarva-yajña-bhuk
the enjoyer of the results of all kinds of sacrifices
ijyeta
is worshiped
yathā vipra-mukhe hutaiḥ
haviṣā
by offering of clarified butter
rājan
O King
yathā
as much as
vipra-mukhe
through the mouth of a brāhmaṇa
hutaiḥ
by offering him first-class food.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is the enjoyer of sacrificial offerings. Yet although His Lordship eats the oblations offered in the fire, my dear King, He is still more satisfied when nice food made of grains and ghee is offered to Him through the mouths of qualified brāhmaṇas.

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (3.9) , yajñārthāt karmaṇo ’nyatra loko ’yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ: all fruitive activities should be performed for sacrifice, which should be directed toward pleasing Kṛṣṇa. As stated elsewhere in Bhagavad-gītā (5.29) , bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram: He is the Supreme Lord and enjoyer of everything. However, although sacrifice may be offered to please Kṛṣṇa, He is more pleased when grains and ghee, instead of being offered in the fire, are prepared as prasāda and distributed, first to the brāhmaṇas and then to others. This system pleases Kṛṣṇa more than anything else. Furthermore, at the present time there is very little chance to offer sacrifices by pouring oblations of food grains and ghee into the fire. Especially in India, there is practically no ghee; for everything that should be done with ghee, people use a certain type of oil preparation. Oil, however, is never recommended for offering in a sacrificial fire. In Kali-yuga, the available quantity of food grains and ghee is gradually diminishing, and people are embarrassed that they cannot produce sufficient ghee and food grains. Under the circumstances, the śāstras enjoin, yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ: in this age, those who are intellectual offer yajña, or perform sacrifices, through the saṅkīrtana movement. Everyone should join the saṅkīrtana movement, offering to the fire of this movement the oblations of his knowledge and riches. In our saṅkīrtana movement, or Hare Kṛṣṇa movement, we offer sumptuous prasāda to the Deity and later distribute the same prasāda to the brāhmaṇas, the Vaiṣṇavas and then to the people in general. Kṛṣṇa’s prasāda is offered to the brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas, and the prasāda of the brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas is offered to the general populace. This kind of sacrifice — chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and distribution of prasāda — is the most perfect and bona fide way of offering sacrifice for the pleasure of Yajña, or Viṣṇu.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O King! The Supreme Lord, enjoyer of all sacrifices, is not worshipped by offerings to the fires as much as he is worshiped by offerings to the mouths of the brāhmaṇas. One should not be too attached to performing sacrifices. The Lord is not worshiped as much by offerings to the mouth of the fire as he is worshipped by offerings of food to the mouth of the brāhmaṇa.
Kṛṣṇa eats fire-oblations but is more satisfied when food offered through the mouths of qualified brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas. The Lord prefers to receive through His devotees. Honoring His servants is the more intimate offering.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do you offer directly to God but neglect feeding His devotees?
  • Whom could you honor with a meal this week as offering to Kṛṣṇa?
📝 My note

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