119 - Food forbidden in worship

1. Hearing the rules of rituals in worship which lead to liberation, Earth asked again the pleasant lord.

Earth said:

 2. “I have heard from you now about the efficacious actions that lead to attaining you. Be pleased to tell me what are the materials to be used for it”.

3. Hearing the words of Earth, Varäha was much pleased and spoke these words of virtue.

Varäha said:

4. The mantras to be utilised (have been said. Now I shall tell you about the materials).

5. The seven kinds of grain together with milk and vegetables and the (fruits of) Madhüka and Udumbara (are commendable).

6. There are others in hundreds and thousands which I may. tell you.

7. I shall say about the grains that can be used. Listen to me with attention.

8-9. The vegetable Chillika, the fragrant raktašhäli, the long šhäli, the big šhäli, good saffron, fine honey, the sweet-smelling šhivasundarî, šhirika and kulashälika and different kinds of cooked barley are commended in worship.

 10-11. Green gram, black gram, horse gram, sesamum, panicseed, gavedhu, Makushta, vähija, and šhyämäka are all permitted.

12. All this I accept if devoutly offered; also the flesh of deer, goat and hare.

13. All these are dear to me in the worship meant to attain me.

14. When the goat is offered in sacrifice by the Vaidic Brahmin, a part of it comes to me as my share.

15. The milk, curd and ghee of the buffalo should be avoided. The devotee of Vishnu should avoid its meat, even the food cooked in its milk.

16. The birds that are to be used also in my worship, I shall tell you now.

 17-18. The flesh of the birds lävaka, värtika and kapiñjala are used in my temples.

19. He who does the worship following these instructions (and restrictions) does not commit any fault and good befalls him.

20. Those who worship me in this manner with all the rituals attain their goal.