Shloka 75
Kāraṇānvēṣaṇam: The 32 Marks of Hari, Defects (Doṣas), Death-Omens, and Hari’s Omnipresence in Social & Household Life
मित्रैर्हरिः केशवाख्यो मुकुन्दो भुङ्क्ते दत्तं त्वन्नप्रानादिकं च / पूर्वं दद्यात्सर्वदा वै गृहस्थो धन्यो भवेदन्यथा व्यर्थमेव
mitrairhariḥ keśavākhyo mukundo bhuṅkte dattaṃ tvannaprānādikaṃ ca / pūrvaṃ dadyātsarvadā vai gṛhastho dhanyo bhavedanyathā vyarthameva
Hari—genannt Keśava, Mukunda—nimmt (durch die Münder von Gästen und Freunden) Speise, Wasser und andere lebenserhaltende Gaben an, die dargebracht werden. Darum soll der Haushälter stets zuerst geben; dann ist er wahrhaft gesegnet—sonst ist alles vergeblich.
Lord Vishnu (Hari) instructing Garuda (Vinata-putra), in the didactic discourse of the Preta Kanda
Concept: अतिथि-मित्र-सेवा द्वारा अन्नदानं विष्ण्वर्पणम्; गृहस्थः प्रथमं दद्यात्।
Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as antaryāmin receiving offerings through beings; karma becomes meaningful when aligned with dharma and devotion.
Application: Serve guests/friends before oneself; keep a daily habit of food/water charity; cultivate the intention that the recipient is a locus of Hari.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: domestic sacred space
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.22.76 (regular giving pleases Vishnu); Garuda Purana 3.22.77 (Vasudeva present in the home)
FAQs
This verse states that when a householder gives food and life-supporting necessities first, that giving is spiritually received by Hari; such giving makes the householder truly blessed, while withholding makes one’s consumption spiritually fruitless.
It teaches a devotional lens: Vishnu partakes of what is offered through the medium of friends/guests, so serving them becomes an indirect offering to Hari (Keśava, Mukunda).
Before eating or prioritizing personal comfort, set aside a portion for guests, the needy, or service—treating anna-dāna and basic support as a daily dharmic practice.