Shloka 151

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

समृतं ब्राह्मणस्यान्नं क्षत्रियान्नं पयः स्मृतम् / वैश्यस्य चान्नमेवान्नं शूद्रान्नं रुधिरं स्मृतम्

Transliteration

samṛtaṃ brāhmaṇasyānnaṃ kṣatriyānnaṃ payaḥ smṛtam / vaiśyasya cānnamevānnaṃ śūdrānnaṃ rudhiraṃ smṛtam

Translation

It is taught that a Brāhmaṇa’s ‘food’ is nectar-like; a Kṣatriya’s is milk; a Vaiśya’s is food-grain itself; and a Śūdra’s food is said to be blood.

Word by Word

• समृतम्: considered as ghee/unctuous (samṛta)
• समृतम्: Karta (Predicate complement/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (predicate adjective)

• ब्राह्मणस्य: of a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• क्षत्रियान्नम्: Kshatriya's food
• क्षत्रियान्नम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय + अन्न (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (क्षत्रियस्य अन्नम्); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पयः: milk
• पयः: Karta (Predicate noun/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• स्मृतम्: is considered/said
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (Predication/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (is said/considered)

• वैश्यस्य: of a Vaishya
• वैश्यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karta (Predicate noun/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति-प्रयोगः (repetition for emphasis)

• शूद्रान्नम्: Shudra's food
• शूद्रान्नम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र + अन्न (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शूद्रस्य अन्नम्); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रुधिरम्: blood
• रुधिरम्: Karta (Predicate noun/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुधिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• स्मृतम्: is considered/said
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (Predication/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Varṇa-associated characterization of ‘anna’: brāhmaṇa as amṛta, kṣatriya as milk, vaiśya as grain/food, śūdra as blood (rūdhira).

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa/karma-based social typology (as presented in smṛti-purāṇic discourse), highlighting hierarchy and ritual valuation of substances.

Application: Read as a cautionary symbolic teaching about conduct and purity expectations in traditional varṇa-dharma contexts; apply ethically by emphasizing dignity and non-harm while understanding historical textual idiom.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: surrounding āhāra and dharma injunctions; possible continuation elaborating varṇa duties and purity norms

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Kṣatriya
• Vaiśya
• Śūdra

FAQs

What is the importance of this food-classification teaching in the Garuda Purana?

It uses symbolic ‘food’ imagery to describe the expected purity, restraint, and livelihood-ethic associated with each varna, emphasizing dharmic conduct and the moral quality of one’s sustenance.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader themes of karma and consequences?

The Garuda Purana repeatedly links one’s livelihood and habits to karmic outcomes; here, ‘food’ functions as a marker of moral tone—refined sustenance versus harmful or violent association—supporting the text’s ethics-driven view of karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose livelihoods and daily habits that minimize harm and increase purity, honesty, and compassion—treating one’s ‘annam’ (means of sustenance) as a moral responsibility.