Shloka 49
Vidura’s Questions on Devotion and Sarga; Maitreya Begins the Account of Creation
यावद्बलिं तेऽज हराम काले यथा वयं चान्नमदाम यत्र । यथोभयेषां त इमे हि लोका बलिं हरन्तोऽन्नमदन्त्यनूहा: ॥ ४९ ॥
yāvad baliṁ te ’ja harāma kāle yathā vayaṁ cānnam adāma yatra yathobhayeṣāṁ ta ime hi lokā baliṁ haranto ’nnam adanty anūhāḥ
O Unborn Lord, enlighten us about the means and proper time to offer You all pleasing grains and goods as bali (sacred offerings), and how we may partake ourselves, so that we and all beings in these worlds may live undisturbed and easily gather life’s necessities for You and for us.
Developed consciousness begins from the human form of life and further increases in the forms of the demigods living in higher planets. The earth is situated almost in the middle of the universe, and the human form of life is the intermediate stage between the life of the demigods and that of the demons. The planetary systems above the earth are especially meant for the higher intellectuals, called demigods. They are called demigods because although their standard of life is far more advanced in culture, enjoyment, luxury, beauty, education and duration of life, they are always fully God conscious. Such demigods are always ready to render service to the Supreme Lord because they are perfectly aware of the fact that every living entity is constitutionally an eternal subordinate servitor of the Lord. They also know that it is the Lord only who can maintain all living entities with all the necessities of life. The Vedic hymns, eko bahūnāṁ yo vidadhāti kāmān, tā enam abruvann āyatanaṁ naḥ prajānīhi yasmin pratiṣṭhitā annam adāme, etc., confirm this truth. In Bhagavad-gītā also, the Lord is mentioned as bhūta-bhṛt, or the maintainer of all living creatures.
FAQs
This verse links proper offerings (bali/yajña) with the right to partake of food—when offerings are made to the Lord at the proper time, sustenance flows naturally and the worlds remain orderly.
They acknowledge a reciprocal dharmic order: the Lord is honored through prescribed offerings, and in return the cosmic systems function smoothly, supplying necessities like food without obstruction.
Adopt the principle of sanctifying consumption—offer your meals and actions to God with gratitude and discipline, and live in a way that supports harmony rather than exploitation.