Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.16.41
निवेदितं तद्भक्ताय दद्याद्भुञ्जीत वा स्वयम् ।
दत्त्वाचमनमर्चित्वा ताम्बूलं च निवेदयेत् ॥ ४१ ॥
niveditaṁ tad-bhaktāya
[niveditam tad-bhaktaaya]
dadyād bhuñjīta vā svayam
[dadyaad bhunjeeta vaa svayam]
dattvācamanam arcitvā
[dattvaachamanam architvaa]
tāmbūlaṁ ca nivedayet
[taamboolam cha nivedayet]
Word-for-word
niveditam
—
this offering of prasāda
tat-bhaktāya
—
unto His devotee
dadyāt
—
should be offered
bhuñjīta
—
one should take
vā
—
either
svayam
—
personally
dattvā ācamanam
—
giving water to wash the hands and mouth
arcitvā
—
in this way worshiping the Deity
tāmbūlam
—
betel nuts with spices
ca
—
also
nivedayet
—
one should offer.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
niveditaṁ tad-bhaktāya
niveditam
this offering of prasāda
tat-bhaktāya
unto His devotee
dadyād bhuñjīta vā svayam
dadyāt
should be offered
bhuñjīta
one should take
vā
either
svayam
personally
dattvācamanam arcitvā
dattvā ācamanam
giving water to wash the hands and mouth
arcitvā
in this way worshiping the Deity
tāmbūlaṁ ca nivedayet
tāmbūlam
betel nuts with spices
ca
also
nivedayet
one should offer.
One should offer all the prasāda to a Vaiṣṇava or offer him some of the prasāda and then take some oneself. After this, one should offer the Deity ācamana and then betel nut and then again worship the Lord.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
One should give this food offering to a Vaiṣṇava or take some oneself. After offering the Lord ācamana, one should offer the Lord betel nut.
One should offer all the food to a devotee, or offer a little and take the remainder for oneself.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Offer prasāda first to a Vaiṣṇava, or give them some and take some yourself; then offer ācamana, betel nut, and worship again. The devotee is honored before oneself. Order of distribution reveals real bhakti.
Reflection Questions
- When prasāda is at hand, whom do I serve first — and is it the right person?
- Where does my hunger override the order dharma prescribes?
My note
Source: vedabase.io