Shloka 10

Devanagari script

सर्वेषां भक्ष्यभोज्यानामन्नं परममुच्यते । द्रवाणां चैव सर्वेषां पेयानामाप उत्तमा:

Transliteration

sarveṣāṁ bhakṣyabhojyānām annaṁ paramam ucyate | dravāṇāṁ caiva sarveṣāṁ peyānām āpa uttamāḥ ||

Translation

Vāyu-deva said: “Among all things that are eaten and all foods that are enjoyed, cooked grain (anna) is declared the highest. And among all liquids—among all that are drunk—water is the best.”

Word by Word

सर्वेषाम्of all

भक्ष्यभोज्यानाम्of foods (to be eaten and to be enjoyed/consumed)

अन्नम्food, cooked rice

परमम्supreme, highest

उच्यतेis said/called

द्रवाणाम्of liquids

चand

एवindeed, just

सर्वेषाम्of all

पेयानाम्of drinkables

आपःwaters, water

उत्तमाःbest, highest

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

व

वायुदेव (Vāyu-deva)

अ

अन्न (food/grain)

आ

आपः (water)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse ranks essentials: among foods, anna (staple nourishment) is foremost; among drinks, water is best. Ethically, it points to honoring basic sustenance as the foundation of life, restraint, and righteous living.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu-deva is speaking and delivering a concise instruction that elevates fundamental necessities—food and water—over luxuries, reinforcing a dharmic perspective on what truly sustains beings.