यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत् ।उच्छिष्टमपि चामेध्यं भोजनं तामसप्रियम् ॥
yātayāmaṃ gatarasaṃ pūti paryuṣitaṃ ca yat |ucchiṣṭam api cāmedhyaṃ bhojanaṃ tāmasapriyam ||
- यातयामम् · yātayāmam
- stale, cooked long ago
- गतरसम् · gatarasam
- tasteless, juiceless
- पूति · pūti
- putrid, foul-smelling
- पर्युषितम् · paryuṣitam
- kept overnight, stale
- उच्छिष्टम् · ucchiṣṭam
- leftover, leavings
- अमेध्यम् · amedhyam
- impure, unfit for offering
- भोजनम् · bhojanam
- food
- तामसप्रियम् · tāmasapriyam
- dear to the dark
“Stale, juiceless, foul, kept overnight, leftover, and impure — such food is dear to the dark-natured.”
— Original plain-language translation
Tamasic eating dulls: dead food feeds dullness. The list describes food abandoned by care — neglected, unclean, unworthy of offering. Freshness and cleanliness are thus small daily victories for clarity.
— Reader's notes (original)