Bhagavad-Gita Chapter 17, Verse 10

[manikantan]

	Chapter 17: The Divisions of Faith
	Verse: 10 yata-yamam gata-rasam puti paryushitam ca yat ucchishtam api camedhyam bhojanam tamasa-priyam

Translation:
Food prepared more than three hours before being eaten, food that is tasteless, decomposed and putrid, and food consisting of remnants and untouchable things is dear to those in the mode of darkness.

Explanation:
This verse describes the food in the mode of ignorance. Cooked food which has remained for more than a prahara (three hours) becomes cold and begins to decompose. Food which has a bad taste or bad smell is indicative of staleness or improper ingredients. Foods which are impure, such as meat, liquor or intoxication, violate scriptural injunctions and bewilder the mind. Remnants of others carry their gross infections and subtle consciousness. However remnants of the Supreme Lord, the guru and of devotees are considered purifying.

Srila Prabhupada explains this as follows. "The best food is the remnants of what is offered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In Bhagavad-gita the Supreme Lord says that He accepts preparations of vegetables, flour and milk when offered with devotion. Patram puspam phalam toyam. Of course, devotion and love are the chief things which the Supreme Personality of Godhead accepts. But it is also mentioned that the prasadam should be prepared in a particular way. Any food prepared by the injunctions of the scripture and offered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead can be taken even if prepared long, long ago, because such food is transcendental. Therefore to make food antiseptic, eatable and palatable for all persons, one should offer food to the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

Please read the Sanskrit Verse and the Prabhupada's Purport.

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One's memory of Krishna is revived by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. By this practice of chanting and hearing the sound vibration of the Supreme Lord, one's ear, tongue and mind are engaged. This mystic meditation is very easy to practice, and it helps one attain the Supreme Lord.

Chant:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare