History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c40.24.1

v3.c40.24.1

says "he should honour food in the morning and evening by saying 'I like it', by saying 'it was good for eating' in the case of food served in śrāddhas and 'it was perfect' as to food offered in ābhyudayika rites¹⁸²⁶ (i. e. in marriage &c.). Kullūka (on Manu II. 54) and the Gṛ. R. (p. 314) quote verses of the Ādipurāṇa (Brahmapurāṇa in Gṛ. R.) to the effect that on seeing food one should fold one's hands and should bow to it saying 'may this always be ours' and that God Viṣṇu himself said that whoever honours food honours him. After the food is served on the plate or dish, the eater should sprinkle water round it and say 'I sprinkle thee that art *satya* (truth) with *ṛta* (right order)' (in the morning) and 'I sprinkle thee that art *ṛta* with *satya*' (in the evening).¹⁸²⁷ According to some he then offers to the right of the plate or dish on the ground a little of the food in his plate from the west towards the east to Dharmarāja (i. e. Yama), Citragupta and *pretas* (vide Bhaviṣyapurāṇa quoted in Sm. C. I. p. 224 and Āhnikaprakāśa p. 465).¹⁸²⁸ Others say that these *balis* are offered to *bhūpati*, *bhuvanapati* and *bhūtānāṁ pati*, while in modern times they are offered to Citra, Citragupta, Yama, Yamadūta (and some add a fifth 'sarvebhyo bhūtebhyaḥ svāhā). He should then sip a little water with the words 'thou art the seat of ambrosia (amṛtopastaraṇam-asi) and at the end of the meal the words used are 'thou art the cover of ambrosia' (amṛtāpidhānam-asi).