SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:
yāta-yāmaṁ gata-rasaṁ
pūti paryuṣitaṁ ca yat
ucchiṣṭam api cāmedhyaṁ
bhojanaṁ tāmasa-priyam
‘Dear to Tāmasa-men is food which is stale, changed, stinking, and putrid; refuse and foul.'[1. Vide: Yoga-tatvoponishat: “Yoga-vighna-karmāhāram varjayed yogavittamaḥ, lavaṇam saṛshapam ch-āmlam ushṇam rukshṇan cha etc.”]
Yātayāmam = Stale or very old (kept over-night, or literally old by a yāma or three hours). Gata-rasam = changed or that which has lost its (original) natural taste. Pūti = Stinking or that which emits a strong offensive smell. Paryushitam = Putrid or corrupted into a different taste by long standing. Uccḥishtam = Refuse or leavings after food has been eaten by others except Gurus (=spiritual teachers, and other privileged (holy) persons). Amedhyam = Foul, or that which is to be considered impure by not having been consecrated at a Yajña.
Such foods are dear to those who are Tamas-full.
Bhojana = Food, because it is that which is eaten (bhujyate). Tamas-food eaten breeds still Tamas. Hence those who have a care for themselves, ought to serve themselves with Satva-food, to promote Satva.
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