Go to Vaniquotes | Go to Vanipedia | Go to Vanimedia


Vanisource - the complete essence of Vedic knowledge


CC Antya 11.30 (1975)



His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada



TEXT 30

aneka nācāilā more prasāda kariyā
viprera śrāddha-pātra khāinu 'mleccha' hañā


SYNONYMS

aneka—in many ways; nācāilā—You have made dance; more—me; prasāda kariyā—by Your mercy; viprera—of the brāhmaṇas; śrāddha-pātra—the dish of the śrāddha ceremony; khāinu—I have eaten; mleccha hañā—although born in a family of meateaters.


TRANSLATION

"My dear Lord, by Your mercy You have made me dance in many ways. For example, I was offered the śrāddha-pātra that should have been offered to first-class brāhmaṇas. I ate from it even though I was born in a family of meateaters.


PURPORT

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, in his Anubhāṣya, quotes from the Viṣṇu-smṛti in reference to śrāddha-pātra.

brāhmaṇāpasadā hy ete
kathitāḥ paṅkti-dūṣakāḥ
etān vivarjayed yatnāt
śrāddha-karmaṇi paṇḍitaḥ

According to this verse, if one is born in a brāhmaṇa family but does not behave according to brahminical standards, he should not be offered the śrāddha-pātra, which is prasāda offered to the forefathers. Advaita Ācārya offered the śrāddha-pātra to Haridāsa Ṭhākura, not to a brāhmaṇa who had been born in a brāhmaṇa family. Although Haridāsa Ṭhākura was born in the family of meateaters, because he was an advanced devotee he was shown more respect than a first-class brāhmaṇa.