11.20
eta bali’ maha-prasada karila vandana
eka ranca lana tara karila bhaksana
SYNONYMS
eta bali’-saying this; maha-prasada—to the maha-prasada; karila vandana—he offered respect; eka ranca—one fractional part; lana—taking; tara karila bhaksana—ate it.
Saying this, he offered prayers to the maha-prasada, took a little portion, and ate it.
PURPORT
Maha-prasada is nondifferent from Krsna.
Therefore, instead of eating maha-prasada, one should honor it.
It is said here, karila vandana, “he offered prayers.” When taking maha-prasada, one should not consider the food ordinary preparations.
Prasada means favor.
One should consider maha-prasada a favor of Krsna.
As stated by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, krsna bada dayamaya karibare jihva jaya svaprasada-anna dila bhai.
Krsna is very kind.
In this material world we are all very attached to tasting various types of food.
Therefore, Krsna eats many nice varieties of food and offers the food back to the devotees, so that not only are one’s demands for various tastes satisfied, but by eating prasada he makes advancement in spiritual life.
Therefore, we should never consider ordinary food on an equal level with maha-prasada.