Shloka 88

Devanagari script

अनिन्द्यं भक्षयेद् इत्थं वाग्यतो ऽन्नम् अकुत्सयन् पञ्चग्रासं महामौनं प्राणाद्याप्यायनाय तत्

Transliteration

anindyaṃ bhakṣayed itthaṃ vāgyato 'nnam akutsayan pañcagrāsaṃ mahāmaunaṃ prāṇādyāpyāyanāya tat

Translation

Thus should one partake only of blameless food—restraining speech and never disparaging what is eaten. The five-morsel rite, observed in great silence, is prescribed for the strengthening and steady nourishment of the vital breaths (prāṇas).

Word by Word

• anindyam: blameless
• anindyam: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anindya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of annam/food)

• bhakṣayet: should eat
• bhakṣayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhakṣ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

• ittham: thus/in this way
• ittham: Adhikarana (Manner/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ittham (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• vāk-yataḥ: restrained in speech
• vāk-yataḥ: Karta (Agent-qualifier/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक) + yata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वाचि यतः = restrained in speech)

• annam: food
• annam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• akutsayan: not disparaging (it)
• akutsayan: Kriya (Concomitant action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kuts (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त; शतृ-प्रत्यय; परस्मैपद-कर्तरि; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक (negated)

• pañca-grāsam: five mouthfuls
• pañca-grāsam: Karma (Object/apposition/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca (संख्या) + grāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (five mouthfuls)

• mahā-maunam: great silence
• mahā-maunam: Karma (Object/apposition/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + mauna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

• prāṇa-ādi-āpyāyanāya: for the nourishment of prāṇa etc.
• prāṇa-ādi-āpyāyanāya: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + āpyāyana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (Dative); एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (prāṇādayaḥ + āpyāyana = nourishment of vital functions etc.)

• tat: that (practice)
• tat: Karma (Object/apposition/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; सर्वनाम (referring to the practice)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Proper manner of eating: blameless food, restrained speech, and the pañca-grāsa (five morsels) observance

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: One should eat only faultless food with restrained speech, without contempt, and observe a silent five-morsel rite for the nourishment of the prāṇas.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice gratitude and non-judgment while eating; adopt brief silent pauses (or a small, mindful first portion) to steady breath, attention, and digestion.

Vishishtadvaita: Care for prāṇa and the body is framed as dharmic stewardship of the Lord’s ‘mode’ (prakāra) in Viśiṣṭādvaita—supporting devotion through embodied purity.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Prāṇa (vital airs)

FAQs

What is the significance of the five-morsel (pañcagrāsa) practice in the Vishnu Purana?

It teaches disciplined, minimal eating performed in silence, intended to steady and nourish the prāṇas and support inner restraint.

How does Sage Parāśara explain restraint in daily life through food and speech?

He links right eating with vāg-yama (control of speech): one should eat only what is blameless and never insult the food, cultivating humility and self-mastery.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Though Vishnu is not named in this verse, the discipline reflects Vaishnava dharma: ordering body and mind so life-force and conduct align with the sustaining cosmic order upheld by the Supreme.