In plain words
But when the face does not change, when the sound does not change, only ugliness results. Many know this: when music begins, the note must suit the pitch. If it does not suit that pitch, a false note comes. For this you must keep the body under control too. In bhajans you see many people: when they sing loudly, the throat juts out a yard. The throat must not change. It must not come out so far. You must keep this under control. Some people close their eyes. One eye goes up, the other comes down. It makes an ugly sight. That is why, while playing the harmonium, people set a mirror on it. The mirror is there so that, while singing, they may notice in it how their mouth and their eyes change. If the note is not right there, their own face looks ugly to them. Such people, however well they sing, loathe their own ugly appearance themselves. We must not cause others unrest by our appearance. We do certain tasks. Those tasks too must be in good order. If we keep talking about something while drinking milk, the milk spills down. Not only that, the throat is harmed too. While eating or drinking anything, we must not talk. All the great souls of ancient times kept silence while they ate. Before the meal—
The offering is Brahman, the oblation is Brahman, poured by Brahman into the fire that is Brahman; Brahman alone is reached by one absorbed in action that is Brahman.
Becoming Vaiśvānara, I dwell in the bodies of living beings; joined with prāṇa and apāna, I digest the four kinds of food.
With these words they would begin. Another thing: one must not talk until the meal is finished. Otherwise the digestion is ruined. When it is ruined, who knows how many kinds of illness come. Close your eyes calmly, pray to God, and eat. Many children do not know this. You must eat calmly. You must not eat laughing, nor eat weeping.