Orchid

Now, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord, He is not hungry. He is not hungry that I shall supply Him foodstuff, and therefore He will be maintained. It is not like that. But still, Kṛṣṇa says that patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati: “Any devotee, if he offers Me patram . . . patram means leaf. Puṣpam means flower. Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalam. Phalam means fruit. Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyam. Toyam means milk or water. Generally, it is meant water.

Now, just see. To satisfy Kṛṣṇa is not very difficult thing. Even the poorest man in the world, he can satisfy Kṛṣṇa by these four items. Anyone can secure from any part of the world. It doesn’t matter that because Kṛṣṇa was, I mean to say, Kṛṣṇa appeared in India, therefore He wanted Indian food. No. Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyam. Leaf and flower and fruit and water, oh, that is available in America, that is available in Czechoslovakia and Greenland—everywhere.

So this is the universal form of satisfying Kṛṣṇa. Anyone—it doesn’t matter however poor he is—he can satisfy Kṛṣṇa. You do not require, “Oh, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I have invited Him, so I must arrange very nice foodstuff.” Of course, if you have got means to supply very nice foodstuff, you must. Otherwise you will be understood that you are miser. If for your own eating you prepare very nice dishes, and because Kṛṣṇa says: “I will be satisfied with leaf and fruits,” so you supply Kṛṣṇa, “All right, Sir. You take leaf and fruit. And for me, I shall take these palatable dishes,” no. Kṛṣṇa is very, I mean to say, intelligent also. He is more intelligent than . . . then you are cheating Him. It is for the, I mean to say, poorest man. If you have got means . . .
(660805 – Lecture BG 04.19-22 – New York)