Taittirīyopaniṣat 03.11

न कंचन वसतौ प्रत्याचक्षीत। तद् व्रतम्। तस्माद् यया कया च विधया बह्वन्नं प्राप्नुयात्। अराध्यस्मा अन्नमित्याचक्षते। एतद्वै मुखतोन्नगं राद्धम्। मुखतोऽस्मा अन्नगं राध्यते। एतद्वै मध्यतोऽन्नगं राद्धम्। मध्यतोऽस्मा अन्नगं राध्यते। एतद्वा अन्ततोन्नगं राद्धम्। अन्ततोऽस्मा अन्नगं राध्यते। य एवं वेद ॥११॥

Let him not refuse anyone who seeks to dwell (with him). That is the vow. Therefore, by whatever means one may obtain much food, people say: “Food should be served to him.” Indeed, this is success attained by serving the mouth with regard to food; through (serving) the mouth, he succeeds in attaining the food. Indeed, for him who knows thus: middle is the success attained regarding the food for one who is middle-aged; feet is the success attained regarding the food for one who is aged.

Taittirīya Bhāshya 03.11

Lord Vishnu, in the form of fire, water, earth, and ether, resides in food. He abides as both the enjoyer and the enjoyed, playing by himself. Mere enjoyability does not imply any inferiority in Him anywhere. Hence, never to disrespect the food, and never to say 'not welcome' to guests, are the two vows to be practiced.

"... विद्यार्थे वसतीच्छया। आगतं नेति न ब्रूयात् तदेतद् विदुषो व्रतम्॥

"... For the sake of knowledge, when one comes with the desire to reside, one should not say 'not welcomed'; this is the vow of the wise.

स विष्णुः पृथिवीनामा पृथुत्वात् प्राणनामकः। प्रकृष्टानन्दबलत आकाशः सर्ववेत्तृतः॥

He, Lord Viṣṇu, is known as 'Earth' because of his vastness; as 'Prāṇa', by virtue of supreme bliss and strength; as 'ether', by knowing all, as he is the knower of everything.

शराख्यदेहिनश्चैव शरीरं प्रेरणात् स्मृतः। एतैश्चतुर्भिर्भगवान् रूपैश्च चतुरात्मभिः॥

He is known as 'Śara', among the embodied, and is known through the impulse. By these four, the Lord manifests through forms and the fourfold selves.

भोग्यभोक्तृस्वरूपेण तिष्ठति क्रीडया स्वयम्। न च भोग्यत्वमात्रेण हीनत्वं तस्य कुत्रचित्॥

He abides as both the enjoyer and the enjoyed, playing by himself. Mere enjoyability does not imply any inferiority in him anywhere.

न हि भार्योपभोग्यस्तु भर्ता हीनत्वमाप्नुयात्। एवं स भगवान् विष्णुरविशेषोऽखिलेष्वपि॥

A husband is not to be treated as an object of enjoyment by the wife, for otherwise he would become inferior. In the same way, Lord Viṣṇu remains undifferentiated in all beings.

रूपेषु क्रीडते नित्यं भोक्ता भोग्य इतीच्छया। अन्नाख्यं तं नैव निन्द्यात् बहु मन्येत तं सदा॥

He always plays among forms, being both the enjoyer and the enjoyed by desire; one should never blame him who is called food, but should always greatly respect him.

इति व्रतद्वयं ह्येतद् भाव्यं यदि सुखे स्पृहा। येन केनापि विधिना बह्वित्येव जनार्दनम्॥

Thus, if one desires happiness, these two vows must indeed be observed; by whatever means or method, as much as possible, and one should worship Lord Janardana (Krishna).

मत्वैव प्राप्नुयान्नित्यं मनोवाक्कायवृत्तिभिः। य एवं समुपासीत तस्यान्नाख्यो हरिः स्वयम्॥

Having known thus, one should always attain (him) by the activities of mind, speech, and body. He who thus worships, for him Hari himself is called Anna (food).

सिद्ध इत्येव हि प्राहुर्विद्वांसः परिनिष्ठिताः। यस्य तद् ब्रह्म संसिद्धं पूर्वं तेनाऽप्यतेऽग्रतः॥

The wise who are well-established indeed say 'accomplished'; for one whose Brahman is perfectly attained before, by him it is obtained further on.

मध्ये वयसि चेत् सिद्धं मुक्तो मध्यं प्रपश्यति। वार्धके चेद् विजानाति मुक्तः पादौ प्रपश्यति॥

If one attains realization in the middle of life, the liberated perceive the centre. If one realizes in old age, the liberated perceives the feet.

तेजोमण्डलमेवान्यत् अङ्गं विष्णोः प्रपश्यति। पूर्वे वयसि बोद्धव्यमामुखात् सर्वदृष्टये॥"

In youth, one sees only the radiant circle as another limb of Viṣṇu. This should be understood from the outset for the complete vision."