Shloka 19
Āyuḥ-kṣaya by Vikarma; Impermanence of the Body; Aśauca and Child Śrāddha Procedures; Dāna as Remedy
अन्नोदकमये देहे गुणानेतान्वदाम्यहम् / यत्प्रातः संस्कृतं सायं नूनमन्नं विनश्यति
annodakamaye dehe guṇānetānvadāmyaham / yatprātaḥ saṃskṛtaṃ sāyaṃ nūnamannaṃ vinaśyati
In diesem aus Nahrung und Wasser bestehenden Körper verkünde ich diese Eigenschaften: Speise, die am Morgen bereitet wird, vergeht gewiss am Abend.
Lord Vishnu
Concept: The body is food-and-water constituted; its nature is perishable—like food prepared in the morning that is gone by evening.
Vedantic Theme: Anna-maya/physical sheath impermanence; deha as mutable product of elements; supports vairāgya and inquiry into the enduring Self.
Application: Reduce over-identification with the body; cultivate moderation and cleanliness; invest attention in lasting virtues and spiritual practice.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: anitya-deha reflections and body-as-food motifs used to motivate dharma and bhakti
FAQs
This verse stresses that the body is a perishable product of food and water; recognizing its rapid decay supports detachment and right priorities in dharma, especially in teachings connected with death and the preta state.
By highlighting the body’s fleeting nature, the verse implies that the enduring concern is the jīva and its karmic journey beyond the physical frame; thus one should not mistake the temporary body for the self.
Cultivate moderation and non-attachment: care for the body as a temporary instrument, but invest more in ethical conduct, remembrance of the divine, and duties toward family and ancestors.