Taittiriya Upanishad 3.9
beginner
अन्नं न परिचक्षीत। तद्व्रतम्। आपो वा अन्नम्। ज्योतिरन्नादम्। अप्सु ज्योतिः प्रतिष्ठितम्। ज्योतिष्यापः प्रतिष्ठिताः। तदेतदन्नमन्ने प्रतिष्ठितम्।
annaṃ na paricakṣīta | tadvratam | āpo vā annam | jyotiranādam | apsu jyotiḥ pratiṣṭhitam | jyotiṣyāpaḥ pratiṣṭhitāḥ | tadetadannamanne pratiṣṭhitam |
"One should not reject food. That is the vow. Water is food. Fire is the eater of food. In water, fire is established. In fire, water is established. Thus food is established in food."
What This Means:
Never refuse food offered - this is a vow. Water is food; fire consumes water. Fire and water depend on each other. Again, everything feeds everything.
Going Deeper:
The elements themselves are in this food-eater relationship. Nothing exists independently; all is mutually supportive.
How To Apply This:
Do not refuse hospitality. See the sacred exchange in all giving and receiving.
#hospitality#water#fire#mutual support