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Shloka 39

Mokṣa-dharma Yoga-Upadeśa: Equanimity, Sense-Restraint, and Vision of the Ātman (आत्मदर्शन-योगोपदेशः)

भुक्तं भुक्तमिदं कोछे कथमन्न॑ विपच्यते । कथं रसत्वं बत्रजति शोणितत्वं कथं पुन:

bhuktaṁ bhuktam idaṁ koṣṭhe katham annaṁ vipacyate | kathaṁ rasatvaṁ vrajati śoṇitatvaṁ kathaṁ punaḥ ||

“বারবার ভক্ষিত এই অন্ন উদরে পৌঁছে কীভাবে পরিপাক হয়? কীভাবে তা রসে পরিণত হয়, আর আবার কীভাবে রক্তরূপ ধারণ করে?”

भुक्तम्eaten
भुक्तम्:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootभुज्
Formक्त, neuter, nominative, singular
भुक्तम्eaten (again and again)
भुक्तम्:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootभुज्
Formक्त, neuter, nominative, singular
इदम्this
इदम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootइदम्
Formneuter, nominative, singular
कोष्ठेin the belly/viscera
कोष्ठे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootकोष्ठ
Formmasculine, locative, singular
कथम्how?
कथम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथम्
अन्नम्food
अन्नम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअन्न
Formneuter, nominative, singular
विपच्यतेis digested/cooked
विपच्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootवि + पच्
Formpresent, ātmanepada, 3rd, singular, passive
कथम्how?
कथम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथम्
रसत्वम्the state of becoming rasa/juice
रसत्वम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootरसत्व
Formneuter, accusative, singular
व्रजतिgoes/attains
व्रजति:
TypeVerb
Rootव्रज्
Formpresent, parasmaipada, 3rd, singular
शोणितत्वम्the state of becoming blood
शोणितत्वम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशोणितत्व
Formneuter, accusative, singular
कथम्how?
कथम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथम्
पुनःagain/further
पुनः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः

ब्राह्मण उवाच

ब्राह्मण (the Brahmin speaker)
अन्न (food)
कोष्ठ (belly/stomach)
रस (nutritive essence)
शोणित (blood)

Educational Q&A

The verse uses a concrete question—how food becomes essence and blood—to direct attention to the subtle, orderly processes sustaining life. Ethically, it encourages humility and self-knowledge: understanding the body’s dependence and transformation supports restraint, gratitude, and responsible action (dharma).

A Brahmin speaker raises a reflective, almost scientific-philosophical query about digestion and bodily transformation. The question functions as a prompt for deeper explanation about the inner workings of the body and the principles that govern living beings.