Meal Prayer

This meal prayer is recited by many Hindu monks, such as those of the Ramakrishna Order. It is from the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4, Verse 24. It is a Sanskrit verse often chanted before meals to consecrate the act of eating as a spiritual offering.

The prayer emphasizes the idea that all aspects of life, including eating, can be acts of worship when performed with the right mindset.

This prayer also reflects the non-duality philosophy of Advaita Vedanta, that all actions and objects are seen as expressions of the same one divine reality (Brahman).

Here's the verse in Sanskrit, the usual transliteration, and English translations.

SANSKRIT: Brahmārpaṇaṃ Brahma Havirbrahmāgnau Brahmaṇā Hutam,Brahmaiva Tena Gantavyam Brahma Karma Samādhinā.

TRANSLITERATION: Brahmārpaṇam brahma havirBrahmāgnau brahmaṇā hutam,Brahmaiva tena gantavyamBrahma-karma-samādhinā.

MEANING: "The cook is God. The food is God. The fire that cooks the food is God. The act of offering the food is God. One who sees God in every action, merges with God."

"The act of offering is Brahman, the oblation is Brahman, It is offered by Brahman into the fire of Brahman. Brahman alone is to be reached by him who sees Brahman in every action."

"The act of offering is divine, the oblation is divine, It is offered by the divine into the sacred fire that is divine. One who sees the divine in every action ultimately merges with the divine."