Shloka 80

Multi-form Manifestations, Indra–Kāma Incarnations, Pravāha, and the Twofold Buddhi

Sense-Discipline and Exclusive Refuge in Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

रसास्वभावो भक्षणे सर्वदापि ह्यनर्पितस्यान्नभक्ष्यस्य विष्णोः / तथो पहारस्य च तत्स्वभावः अभक्ष्याणां भक्षणे तत्स्वभावः

Transliteration

rasāsvabhāvo bhakṣaṇe sarvadāpi hyanarpitasyānnabhakṣyasya viṣṇoḥ / tatho pahārasya ca tatsvabhāvaḥ abhakṣyāṇāṃ bhakṣaṇe tatsvabhāvaḥ

Translation

La inclinación natural del gusto es siempre hacia el comer; pero para quien está consagrado a Viṣṇu, el alimento no ofrecido no es digno de ser comido. Asimismo, la naturaleza de tomar lo no dado es consumir lo que no debe consumirse: tal es su carácter inherente.

Word by Word

• rasa-svabhāvaḥ: the nature of taste
• rasa-svabhāvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rasa (प्रातिपदिक) + svabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (rasa-svabhāva = 'taste-nature')

• bhakṣaṇe: in eating
• bhakṣaṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; 'also/even')

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• anarpitasya: of (that which is) not offered
• anarpitasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-arpita (कृदन्त; √arp (अर्प्) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; नकार-प्रत्यय (negation) + क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle)

• anna-bhakṣyasya: of edible food
• anna-bhakṣyasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (anna-bhakṣya = 'food fit to be eaten')

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'thus/likewise')

• upahārasya: of offering/presentation
• upahārasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upahāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• tat-svabhāvaḥ: that is its nature
• tat-svabhāvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + svabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-पूर्वपद-तत्पुरुषः

• abhakṣyāṇām: of inedible things
• abhakṣyāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-bhakṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; नकार-प्रत्यय (negation)

• bhakṣaṇe: in eating
• bhakṣaṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• tat-svabhāvaḥ: that is its nature
• tat-svabhāvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + svabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-पूर्वपद-तत्पुरुषः

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Food should be offered to Viṣṇu before consumption; taking what is not given and eating what is unfit are natural tendencies needing conscious correction through devotional discipline.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga through sanctified consumption: transforming necessity (eating) into worship; reducing rāga and doṣa by offering and gratitude.

Application: Offer meals (simple naivedya) before eating; practice mindful consumption; avoid unethical sourcing; cultivate non-stealing in subtle forms (credit, time, resources).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: domestic shrine/temple

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.28.76-79 (sense control sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of offering food before eating in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames unoffered food (anarpita anna) as unfit for a devotee of Viṣṇu, emphasizing that eating should be sanctified through offering, aligning daily life with dharma and devotion.

How does this verse connect desire (taste) with sin and karmic downfall?

It notes that taste naturally pushes one toward consumption, but without restraint it leads to eating what is forbidden and even to appropriation (upahāra), turning a simple impulse into adharma with karmic consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice mindful eating: offer food (mentally or ritually) before meals, avoid forbidden/impure consumption, and cultivate honesty—do not take what is not given.