vishnuharibhojana-mantrasurrender

Harir Data Harir Bhokta

हरिर्दाता हरिर्भोक्ता in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Before every meal; also any time as a reminder of Hari's all-pervading presence·📜 Traditional Vaishnava bhojana-mantra (grace before meals)

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

This profound verse offers food (and all action) to Lord Hari by recognising that He alone is the giver, the food, the eater and the sustainer present within all beings. It is a beloved bhojana-mantra (grace before meals) that transforms eating into worship and cultivates the vision of the Divine in everything.

Origin & Story

Traditional Vaishnava bhojana-mantra (grace before meals) · Unknown (traditional) · Classical Vaishnava tradition

This verse belongs to the tradition of bhojana-mantras recited before meals, by which the act of eating is consecrated as an offering to the Lord. Reflecting the Upanishadic vision of the Self as the indweller of all and the Gita's teaching of offering one's food to the Divine, it reminds the devotee that there is nothing apart from Hari — He is the giver, the gift, the receiver and the sustainer of all life.

✦ As told in scripture

Saints say that food taken after offering it to Hari with this verse becomes prasada — sanctified, nourishing both body and soul — and that one who eats with this awareness is freed from the bondage of mere sense-enjoyment, for the meal itself becomes worship.

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The Mantra

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Harir data harir bhokta harir annam prajapatih Harih sarva-sharira-stho bhunkte bhojayate harih

Meaning:Hari is the giver, Hari is the enjoyer; Hari Himself is the food, and Hari is the lord of all beings. Present within every body, it is Hari who eats and Hari who feeds — He is all.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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Harih🔊Lord Hari (Vishnu), the remover of all sins and sorrows

Data🔊The giver, the bestower (of food and all things)

Bhokta🔊The enjoyer, the one who partakes / experiences

Annam🔊The food itself, nourishment

Prajapatih🔊The lord of all created beings, the sustainer of life

Sarva-sharira-sthah🔊Present within all bodies, dwelling in every being

Bhunkte🔊Eats, partakes of the food

Bhojayate🔊Causes (others) to eat, feeds, nourishes

Benefits of Chanting हरिर्दाता हरिर्भोक्ता

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Transforms ordinary eating into an act of worship and offering to Lord Hari

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Cultivates the vision that the same Lord dwells within all beings (sarva-sharira-stha)

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A cherished grace-before-meals (bhojana) mantra that sanctifies food

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Frees the mind from the ego of doership by offering all action to Hari

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Brings gratitude, contentment and a devotional attitude to daily life

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Reflects the Bhagavad Gita's teaching of offering all that one eats to the Divine

How to Chant हरिर्दाता हरिर्भोक्ता

Repetitions1times

Best TimeBefore every meal; also any time as a reminder of Hari's all-pervading presence

FaceEast

Recite this verse before eating, with hands joined or with the right hand over the food, offering the meal to Lord Hari. Eat with the awareness that it is Hari who gives, who is the food, and who, dwelling within, partakes of it. It may also be contemplated through the day to remember that the same Lord acts in and through all beings.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete हरिर्दाता हरिर्भोक्ता written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It means 'Hari is the giver, Hari is the enjoyer; Hari is the food itself, and Hari is the lord of all beings. Dwelling within every body, it is Hari who eats and Hari who feeds.' It declares that the Lord is the source, substance and recipient of all nourishment.

It is most often chanted as a bhojana-mantra (grace before meals), offering the food to Lord Hari before eating. It can also be remembered at any time as a meditation on the Lord's presence in all beings.

It echoes the Gita's teaching that one should offer whatever one eats to the Divine (Bhagavad Gita 9.27). By seeing Hari as giver, food and eater, the act of eating itself becomes a sacred offering free of ego.

Because Hari dwells within all beings as the indwelling Self. When anyone eats, it is ultimately the Lord within who receives the nourishment; and as the universal sustainer, it is He who feeds all. So He is at once the one who eats and the one who feeds.