254 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 8, Ch. 16

TEXT 55

chat axa zarefareay THEA: |
Aaa TONITE 144 I

daksinam gurave dadyad
rtvigbhyas ca yatharhatah

annadyendsva-pakams ca
prinayet samupagatan

daksinam—some contribution of money or gold; gurave—unto the
spiritual master; dadyat—one should give; rtvigbhyah ca—and to the
priests engaged by the spiritual master; yatha-arhatah—as far as possi-
ble; anna-adyena—by distributing prasdda; asva-pakdn—even to the
candalas, persons habituated to eating the flesh of dogs; ca—also;
prinayet—one should please; samupdgatan—because they have
assembled there for the ceremony.

TRANSLATION

One should satisfy the spiritual master and assistant priests by
giving them cloth, ornaments, cows and also some monetary con-
tribution. And by distributing prasada one should satisfy everyone
assembled, including even the lowest of men, the candalas [eaters

of dog flesh].
PURPORT

In the Vedic system, prasdda is distributed, as recommended here,
without discrimination as to who may take the prasdda. Regardless of
whether one be a brahmana, siidra, vaisya, ksatriya, or even the lowest
of men, a canddla, he should be welcome to accept prasdda. However,
when the candalas, the lower class or poorer class, are taking prasdda,
this does not mean that they have become Narayana or Visnu. Narayana
is situated in everyone’s heart, but this does not mean Narayana is a can-
dala or poor man. The Mayavada philosophy of accepting a poor man as
Narayana is the most envious and atheistic movement in Vedic culture.
This mentality should be completely given up. Everyone should be given
the opportunity to take prasdda, but this does not mean that everyone
has the right to become Narayana.
