Shloka 55

गृहस्थस्य सदाचारः: शौच, तर্পण, वैश्वदेव, अतिथिधर्म, भोजन-विधि, संध्योपासन, ऋतु-धर्मः

Devanagari script

चतुर्दशो भूतगणो य एष तत्र स्थिता ये ऽखिलभूतसङ्घाः तृप्त्यर्थम् अन्नं हि मया निसृष्टं तेषाम् इदं ते मुदिता भवन्तु

Transliteration

caturdaśo bhūtagaṇo ya eṣa tatra sthitā ye 'khilabhūtasaṅghāḥ tṛptyartham annaṃ hi mayā nisṛṣṭaṃ teṣām idaṃ te muditā bhavantu

Translation

This is the fourteenth host of beings; and all the multitudes of creatures who abide there—food has indeed been brought forth by Me for their satisfaction. Let this be for them; may they be gladdened.

Word by Word

• चतुर्दशः: fourteen
• चतुर्दशः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्दश (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (चतुर्दश = 'fourteen') विशेषणम् (भूतगणः)

• भूतगणः: group of beings
• भूतगणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (भूतानां गणः)

• यः: which/who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम

• एषः: this
• एषः: Apposition (Samanadhikarana/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• स्थिताः: standing/abiding
• स्थिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (ये)

• ये: who (all those)
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अखिलभूतसङ्घाः: assemblies of all beings
• अखिलभूतसङ्घाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अखिल + भूत + सङ्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अखिलानां भूतानां सङ्घाः)

• तृप्त्यर्थम्: for satisfaction
• तृप्त्यर्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तृप्ति + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (तृप्त्यर्थम् = 'for the sake of satisfaction'); अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipata (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr-karana (Agent-instrument/कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निसृष्टम्: sent forth, provided
• निसृष्टम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सृज् (धातु) + नि (उपसर्ग) → निसृष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (अन्नम्)

• तेषाम्: for them/of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मुदिताः: glad
• मुदिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुद् (धातु) → मुदित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (ते)

• भवन्तु: let them be
• भवन्तु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya; voicing the cosmic ordinance as proceeding from the Supreme Lord)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Distribution of offerings/food to the various hosts of beings (bhūta-gaṇas) within the cosmic order

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Manvantara

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Within the ordered cosmos, diverse hosts of beings are sustained by offerings; nourishment is a dharmic act aligned with cosmic maintenance.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Adopt a daily practice of sharing food (even symbolic) acknowledging unseen dependents—animals, nature, and vulnerable communities.

Vishishtadvaita: Cosmic order is upheld through the Lord’s governance and the gṛhastha’s dharma as cooperative participation in His sustaining will.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Bhūta-gaṇas (classes of beings)
• All creatures (akhila-bhūta-saṅgha)

FAQs

What is the significance of food (anna) in this Vishnu Purana verse?

Anna is presented as a deliberate divine emanation meant to satisfy and sustain every class of beings, showing that cosmic order includes reliable provision for life.

How does Sage Parāśara explain universal sustenance in this context?

He frames nourishment as part of the created arrangement: beings are placed in their domains, and corresponding food is brought forth so they may remain content within that order.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is implied as the supreme source behind creation and maintenance—food and satisfaction are not accidental, but flow from His sovereign will sustaining all creatures.