Chapter 38 contrasts the primary spiritual duties of different ages. What are these duties, and why is food donation considered supreme in the current age?

According to the teachings in Chapter 38, the primary spiritual duty has varied across the great ages. Penance was the main practice in the Krita age, Knowledge in the Treta age, and Sacrifice in the Dvapara age. For the present Kali age, the text asserts that Charity is the proven means for spiritual progress. Within charity, food donation (Annadan) is hailed as supreme. Chapter 38 explains that this is because food is the very form of Para-Brahman (the Supreme Reality), the source and sustenance of all life. Therefore, donating food is considered the merit among all merits, likened to a beautiful pendant on a necklace, making it more complete than any other form of donation.