धाता प्रजापतिः शक्रो वह्निर्वसुगणोऽर्यमा । प्रविश्यातिथिमेते वै भुञ्जन्तेऽन्नं नरेश्वर
Dhātā, Prajāpati, Indra, Agni, the Vasus, and Aryaman—these deities, O king, enter the guest and partake of the food in a man's house.
तस्मादतिथिपूजायां यतेत सततं नरः । स केवलमघं भुङ्क्ते यो भुङ्क्ते ह्यतिथिं विना
Therefore, a man should always strive to honor guests; he who eats without a guest eats only sin.
ततः सुवासिनीदुःखिगर्भिणीवृद्धबालकान् । भोजयेत् संस्कृतान्नेन प्रथमं चरमं गृही
After that, the householder should first feed married women, the distressed, pregnant women, the elderly, and children with prepared food, and lastly himself.
अभुक्तवत्सु चैतेषु भुञ्जन् भुङ्क्ते स दुष्कृतम् । मृतश्च गत्वा नरकं श्लेष्मभुग्जायते नरः
If he eats while these have not eaten, he consumes sin; and dying thus, he goes to hell and is born as a worm-eater.
अस्नाताशी मलं भुङ्क्ते ह्यजपी पूयशोणितम् । असंस्कृतान्नभुङ्मूत्रं बालादिप्रथमं शकृत्
One who eats without bathing consumes filth; one who eats without reciting mantras consumes pus and blood; one who eats unprepared food consumes urine, and if he eats before children and others, he eats excrement first.
अहोमी च कृमीन् भुङ्क्ते अदत्त्वा विषमश्नुते
He also eats worms day and night, and partakes of what is improper, if he eats without giving (to others).
तस्माच्छृणुष्व राजेन्द्र यथा भुञ्जीत वै गृही । भुञ्जतश्च यथा पुंसः पापबन्धो न जायते
Therefore, O king of kings, listen to how a householder should eat, and how, while eating, a man does not become bound by sin.
इह चारोग्यविपुलं बलबुद्धिस्तथा नृप । भवत्यरिष्टशान्तिश्च वैरिपक्षाभिचारिणः
Here, O king, health, great strength, and intelligence arise, as well as freedom from calamity and protection from hostile sorcerers.
स्नातो यथावत् कृत्वा च देवर्षिपितृतर्पणम् । प्रशस्तरत्नपाणिस्तु भुञ्जीत प्रयतो गृही
Having bathed properly and performed offerings to the gods, sages, and ancestors, the householder, with auspicious gems in hand, should eat with devotion.
कृते जपे हुते वह्नौ शुद्धवस्त्रधरो नृप । दत्त्वाऽतिथिभ्यो विप्रेभ्यो गुरुभ्यस्संश्रिताय च । पुण्यगन्धधरः शस्तमाल्यधारी नरेश्वर
Having recited mantras and made offerings into the fire, wearing clean garments, O king, and having given to guests, Brāhmaṇas, teachers, and dependents, adorned with auspicious fragrance and good garlands, O king, he should eat.
नैकवस्त्रधरो नार्द्रपाणिपादो महीपते । विशुद्धवदनः प्रीतो भुञ्जीत न विदिङ्मुखः
One should not eat wearing multiple garments, nor with wet hands or feet, O King; with a purified face, cheerful, one may eat, but not facing an improper direction.
प्राङ्मुखोदङ्मुखो वापि न चैवान्यमना नरः । अन्नं प्रशस्तं पथ्यं च प्रोक्षितं प्रोक्षणोदकैः
Whether facing east or north, and not with the mind elsewhere, a person should eat food that is wholesome, suitable, and sprinkled with purifying water.
न कुत्सिताहृतं नैव जुगुप्सापदसंस्कृतम् । दत्त्वा तु भक्तं शिष्येभ्यः क्षुधितेभ्यस्तथा गृही
Not food brought with contempt, nor that prepared in a manner causing disgust; after giving a portion to disciples and to those who are hungry, the householder may eat.
प्रशस्तशुद्धपात्रे तु भुञ्जीताकुपितो द्विजः
In a suitable, clean vessel, a twice-born should eat, free from anger.
नासन्दिसंस्थिते पात्रे नादेशे च नरेश्वर । नाकाले नातिसङ्कीर्णे दत्त्वाग्रं च नरोऽग्नये
Not in a vessel placed on sand, nor in an improper place, O King; not at an unsuitable time, nor in a crowded spot; after offering the first portion to fire, a person may eat.
मन्त्राभिमन्त्रितं शस्तं न च पर्युषितं नृप । अन्यत्र फलमूलेभ्यः शुष्कशाखादिकात् तथा
Food that is consecrated with mantras and wholesome, not stale, O ruler; except for fruits, roots, and dried branches and the like.
तद्वद्धारीतकेभ्यश्च गुडभक्ष्येभ्य एव च । भुञ्जीतोद्धृतसाराणि न कदापि नरेश्वर
Similarly, except for haritaki fruits and sweet preparations made with jaggery; one should eat only the portions with essence, never otherwise, O King.
न शेषं पुरुषोऽश्नीयादन्यत्र जगतीपते । मध्वम्बुदधिसर्पिभ्यः सक्तुभ्यश्च विवेकवान्
A person should not eat leftovers, except for honey, water, ghee, and flour preparations, if discerning.
अश्नीयात् तन्मयो भूत्वा पूर्वं तु मधुरं रसम् । लवणाम्लौ तथा मध्ये कटुतिक्तादिकांस्ततः
One should eat, becoming absorbed in the food; first the sweet taste, then salty and sour in the middle, and finally the pungent, bitter, and similar flavors.
प्राग्द्रवं पुरुषोऽश्नीयान्मध्ये कठिनभोजनः । अन्ते पुनर्द्रवाशी तु बलारोग्ये न मुञ्चति
A person should eat liquid food first, solid food in the middle, and again liquid at the end; thus, strength and health are not lost.
अनिन्द्यं भक्षयेदित्थं वाग्यतोऽन्नमकुत्सयन् । पञ्चग्रासं महामौनं प्राणाद्याप्यायनं हि तत्
One should eat blameless food in this way, without criticizing it, and in silence for five mouthfuls; this is the nourishment of the vital energies.
भुक्त्वा सम्यगथाचम्य प्राङ्मुखोदङ्मुखोऽपि वा । यथावत् पुनराचामेत् पाणी प्रक्षाल्य मूलतः
Having eaten properly and rinsed the mouth, whether facing east or north, one should rinse again as appropriate, washing the hands thoroughly.
स्वस्थः प्रशान्तचित्तस्तु कृतासनपरिग्रहः । अभीष्टदेवतानां तु कुर्वीत स्मरणं नरः
Calm and with a tranquil mind, having arranged the seat, a person should remember the desired deities.
अग्निराप्याययेद्धातुं पार्थिवं पवनेरितः । दत्तावकाशं नभसा जरयत्यस्तु मे सुखम्
May fire, moved by wind, nourish the earthly element; having received space, may it digest, and may happiness be mine.
अन्नं बलाय मे भूमेरपामग्न्यनिलस्य च । भवत्येतत्परीणतं ममास्त्यव्याहतं सुखम्
May this food bring strength to me from earth, water, fire, and wind; as it is digested, may unobstructed happiness be mine.
प्राणापानसमानानामुदानव्यानयोस्तथा । अन्नं पुष्टिकरं चास्तु ममाप्यव्याहतं सुखम्
May food be nourishing for my prāṇa, apāna, samāna, udāna, and vyāna; may unobstructed happiness also be mine.
अगस्तिरग्निर्वडवानलश्च भुक्तं मयान्नं जरयत्वशेषम् । सुखं च मे तत्परिणामसम्भवं यच्छन्त्वरोगं मम चास्तु देहे
May Agastya, fire, and the submarine fire digest the food I have eaten; may the happiness arising from its digestion grant me freedom from disease in my body.
विष्णुः समस्तेन्द्रियदेहदेही वृथा न भूतो भगवान् यथैकः । सत्येन तेनात्तमशेषमन्नमारोग्यतां मे परिणाममेतु
Viṣṇu, the indweller of all senses and bodies, is never in vain, O Lord; by that truth, may all the food I have eaten bring me health and proper digestion.
विष्णुरत्ता तथैवान्नं परिणामश्च वै तथा । सत्येन तेन मद्भुक्तं जीर्यत्यन्नमिदं तथा
Vishnu is the eater, likewise the food, and so too its transformation; by this truth, the food I have eaten is digested.
इत्युच्चार्य स्वहस्तेन परिमृज्य तथोदरम् । अनायासप्रदायीनि कुर्यात् कर्माण्यतन्द्रितः
Having recited thus, one should wipe the abdomen with one's own hand and, without laziness, perform actions that bring ease.