Shloka 42

Matsya Purana — The Rite and Glory of Meru-Dāna: The Tenfold ‘Gift of Meru’ and Mountain-Offe...

Devanagari script

अन्नं ब्रह्म यतः प्रोक्तम् अन्ने प्राणाः प्रतिष्ठिताः अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि जगदन्नेन वर्तते //

Transliteration

annaṃ brahma yataḥ proktam anne prāṇāḥ pratiṣṭhitāḥ annādbhavanti bhūtāni jagadannena vartate //

Translation

Food is declared to be Brahman, for the vital breaths (prāṇas) are established in food. From food beings come into existence, and by food the whole world is sustained.

Word by Word

• अन्नम् (annam): food, nourishment

• ब्रह्म (brahma): Brahman, the Supreme Reality / sacred absolute

• यतः (yataḥ): because, since

• प्रोक्तम् (proktam): declared, proclaimed

• अन्ने (anne): in food

• प्राणाः (prāṇāḥ): vital breaths, life-forces

• प्रतिष्ठिताः (pratiṣṭhitāḥ): established, grounded, supported

• अन्नात् (annāt): from food

• भवन्ति (bhavanti): arise, come to be

• भूतानि (bhūtāni): beings, creatures, elements

• जगत् (jagat): the world, cosmos

• अन्नेन (annena): by food, through food

• वर्तते (vartate): continues, is maintained, functions.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution within the Matsya–Manu dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Brahman
• Prana
• Anna
• Bhutani
• Jagat

Tags

• Anna-Brahma
• Dharma
• Householder
• Sustenance
• Vedic-Ethics

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

It presents a sustaining principle: beings arise from food and the world continues by food—implying that cosmic continuity depends on nourishment as a foundational support of life, even across cycles of creation and dissolution.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

By calling food ‘Brahman,’ it elevates providing and protecting food supplies—agriculture, storage, fair distribution, and especially feeding guests and the needy (annadāna)—as a central duty of householders and rulers for social stability and dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it supports the primacy of offerings involving food (naivedya) and food-giving (annadāna) as sacred acts; architecturally, it indirectly justifies temple and household provisions like kitchens, granaries, and feeding halls as dharmic infrastructure (a common practical concern in Purāṇic temple culture).