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—conocido como Keśava, Mukunda—participa (por las bocas de los huéspedes y amigos) del alimento, el agua y las demás ofrendas que sostienen la vida y que se entregan. Por ello, el cabeza de familia debe dar siempre primero; entonces es verdaderamente bendito—de otro modo, todo es en vano.
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.