Verse 3.47-48

Sanskrit text and transliteration:

अपि चान्नस्य माहात्म्यमिदमन्यद्यथावयः ॥ ४७ ॥
यथाश्रद्धं यथाकालं यथासत्कारमेव च ।
अन्नं दददवाप्नोति तत्तथैव न संशयः ॥ ४८ ॥

api cānnasya māhātmyamidamanyadyathāvayaḥ || 47 ||
yathāśraddhaṃ yathākālaṃ yathāsatkārameva ca |
annaṃ dadadavāpnoti tattathaiva na saṃśayaḥ || 48 ||

English translation of verse 3.47-48:

This, again, is the greatness of food—at whatever period of life, with whatever faith, at whatever time, and with whatever kind treatment it is offered, it, no doubt, reaches the person who offers it likewise.

Notes:

A person shall acquire plenty of food for offering it to others. It is said that the food that is earned is best given when given at the best of places (e.g., a sacred place), at the best of times (e.g., a new moon day), to the best person (e.g., one who has studied the Vedas and follows their teachings), in the best way (with the greatest veneration and faith), etc. All these are important in respect of offering food to others. As and when he gives, so he gets back. The Gītā description (XVII, 20) of sāttvic gift is relevant in this context. It says: “That gift which is given—knowing it to be a duty to give—to one who does no service, in place, and in time, and to a worthy person,—that gift is held to be sāttvic.”