# Cc. Madhya 9.53 ## Text > apavitra anna eka thālite bhariyā > prabhu-āge nila 'mahā-prasāda' baliyā ## Synonyms *apavitra*—polluted; *anna*—food; *eka*—one; *thālite*—plate; *bhariyā*—filling; *prabhu*-*āge*—in front of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; *nila*—brought; *mahā*-*prasāda* *baliyā*—calling it *mahā-prasāda.* ## Translation **Having made their plot, the Buddhists brought a plate of untouchable food before Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and called it mahā-prasāda.** ## Purport The word *apavitra anna* refers to food that is unacceptable for a Vaiṣṇava. In other words, a Vaiṣṇava cannot accept any food offered by an *avaiṣṇava* in the name of *mahā-prasāda.* This should be a principle for all Vaiṣṇavas. When asked, "What is the behavior of a Vaiṣṇava?" Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "A Vaiṣṇava must avoid the company of an *avaiṣṇava* [*asat*]." The word *asat* refers to an *avaiṣṇava,* that is, one who is not a Vaiṣṇava. *Asat-saṅga-tyāga*,-*ei vaiṣṇava-ācāra* [[cc/madhya/22/87|(Cc. Madhya 22.87)]]. A Vaiṣṇava must be very strict in this respect and should not at all cooperate with an *avaiṣṇava.* If an *avaiṣṇava* offers food in the name of *mahā-prasāda,* it should not be accepted. Such food cannot be *prasāda* because an *avaiṣṇava* cannot offer anything to the Lord. Sometimes preachers in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement have to accept food in a home where the householder is an *avaiṣṇava;* however, if this food is offered to the Deity, it can be taken. Ordinary food cooked by an *avaiṣṇava* should not be accepted by a Vaiṣṇava. Even if an *avaiṣṇava* cooks food without fault, he cannot offer it to Lord Viṣṇu, and it cannot be accepted as *mahā-prasāda.* According to Lord Kṛṣṇa in the *Bhagavad-gītā* [[bg/9/26|(Bg. 9.26)]]: > patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ > yo me bhaktyā prayacchati > tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam > aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ "If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it." Kṛṣṇa can accept anything offered by His devotee with devotion. An *avaiṣṇava* may be a vegetarian and a very clean cook, but because he cannot offer the food he cooks to Viṣṇu, it cannot be accepted as *mahā-prasāda.* It is better that a Vaiṣṇava abandon such food as untouchable.