With Love And Devotion

Thus Krsna wants us to eat only food offered first in sacrifice to Him. He says: "The devotees of the Lord are released from all sins because they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice. Others, who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin." (Bg. 3.13)

The Krsna conscious person sees himself always as a servant of the supreme enjoyer. His meditation on Krsna is uninterrupted and steady, and he does not need to drop down to the level of material sense gratification to eat. In the kitchen, he is thinking of Krsna, for whom he prepares palatable dishes. He does not enjoy the food while he is preparing it, nor does he taste it, even to adjust the spices. Krsna is the first to enjoy. Then, with love and devotion, he offers the preparation to Krsna, who is the pleasure reservoir of the senses, and says pleasing prayers asking Krsna to please accept his offering. Krsna says: "If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it." (Bg. 9.26)

It is not that God is hungry and comes begging some food. No, Krsna is always self-satisfied, and whatever we offer Him is His to begin with. But He wants to set up a reciprocation, an exchange of feelings. He does not ask for an opulent feast-just a little water, a leaf or some fruit, which can be secured by any person under any circumstances. He does not say that He will accept meat, or fish, or eggs, and thus one who wants to satisfy Krsna will refrain from offering Him these things. Just simple vegetarian dishes should be offered-the necessary ingredient is love and devotion-and Krsna will accept them.