If, having received favours through a yajña, one shares nothing back — offering no oblation to the devas, returning nothing to Nature, enjoying all the benefit alone without so much as acknowledging the support received — one deserves the name of a thief, and nothing less. “Those who eat what remains of the yajña” — that is, what is left after a portion has been returned to Nature and to fellow beings — “incur no sin.” Sin (pāpa) is the currency of sorrow, merit (puṇya) the currency of happiness; and one who “cooks” only for himself is a sinner. “Cooks” may be extended to mean “earns” or “makes” in the widest sense.

In the most literal sense, Avadhūtas are seen feeding other creatures — often dogs — from even the little food they are given. It seems only right, then, to offer a little to others as a sign of gratitude, rather than covet everything for oneself. Coveting is the very source of greed and the building of a wall of identity. By feeding others we unconsciously take them into our sense of identity, and so expand ourselves — not physically. What we eat, we become. By hoarding, the walls of “I” only harden. The whole point of Yoga is to break those walls and expand; hence parting with even hard-earned food loosens attachment and knocks a boulder or two off the ego. There is a real relief and peace in sharing.