Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 13: Daśaratha Goes to the Sacrificial Arena
Text 1.13.13
दातव्यमन्नं विधिवत्सत्कृत्य न तु लीलया॥
dātavyam annam vidhivat satkṛtya na tu līlayā
dātavyam = should be given in charity; annam = food; vidhivat = according to the scriptural rules; satkṛtya = and with respect; na tu = not; līlayā = playfully.
Food should be given in charity according to the scriptural rules and with respect, not playfully.
Food should be given with respect, that is, by honoring the recipient with fragrance and so on. It should also be given with respect, not playfully, that is, not disrespectfully.
NOTE. Bhagavad-gītā 17.13 notes that without distribution of prasādam [spiritual food that have been offered to the chief beneficiary of the Vedic sacrifices, Lord Viṣṇu], sacrifices are in the mode of ignorance. Therefore, on the occasion of this sacrifice, the sages demanded an elaborate arrangement for this.