: To increase life span, purify the mind, and strengthen the body, the arhats have chosen foods that are best for health and longevity, such as milk, sugar, rice, wheat, fruits, and vegetables. These foods are very dear to those in the mode of goodness. Foods like roasted sorghum, molasses, the raw material of jaggery, though not delicious in themselves, become palatable when mixed with milk and other foods, and then they become in the mode of goodness. All these foods are naturally pure. They are completely different from untouchable things like meat and liquor. The oily substances mentioned in the eighth verse have nothing to do with animal fat obtained through animal slaughter. Animal fat is found in the form of milk, which is the most excellent of all foods. Milk, butter, cheese, and other such products provide animal fat in a form that eliminates the need to kill innocent creatures. This slaughter continues only because of cruelty. Milk is the civilized way to obtain the necessary fat. Slaughter is only a barbaric method, and meat is abundantly available through things like peas, lentils, and wheat.
Foods in the rajasic mode, which are too sour, too salty, too hot, or too spicy, reduce the digestive juices in the stomach and cause discomfort and disease. Foods in the tamasic mode, i.e., darkness, are not particularly fresh. Any food that has been cooked for more than three hours before eating (except for offerings made to the Lord) is considered to be in the tamasic mode. They have a foul odor due to decomposition. These attract those in this mode but repel those in the sattva mode.
Food that has been offered to the Lord first or that has been eaten by saints, especially Gurudev, can be eaten only if it is a delicacy. Otherwise, the delicacy is considered to be in the mode of Tamo. It causes contagious diseases and illness. Such foods may be pleasing to people in the mode of Tamo, but those in the mode of Sattva do not like them; they do not touch them. The best food is the one that comes from offering to the Lord, and when offered with devotion, he promises to accept dishes made of vegetables, flour and milk.
PURPORT: Whatever is done without a spiritual aim, whether it be sacrifice, charity or penance, is of no use. Therefore, such actions are declared to be unwholesome in this verse. Everything should be done in devotional service to the Lord. Without such faith and without proper guidance, no fruit will be obtained. In all the Vedic scriptures, attention to the Lord is advised. Understanding Krishna is the ultimate goal in the practice of the Vedas. Without following this principle, no one can achieve success. Therefore, the best method is to work in Krishna consciousness from the very beginning under the guidance of a bona fide Guru, and this is the way to make everything successful.
In the conditioned state, people are attracted to worship demigods, demons, or demons like Kubera. Although the mode of goodness is better than the mode of rajas, one who directly takes up Krishna consciousness transcends the three modes of nature. Although there is a gradual process of advancement, if anyone takes up Krishna consciousness directly in the association of pure devotees, that is the best process. That is what is taught in this chapter. To achieve success in this process, one should first seek a qualified guru and be trained under his guidance. Only then will one have faith in the Lord. When that faith matures in due course, it is called love of Godhead. This love is the ultimate goal of the living entities. Therefore, one should take up Krishna consciousness directly. This is the message of this Seventeenth Chapter.
