Verse 10

Aitreya

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

तदपानेनाजिघृक्षत्। तदावयत्। सैषोऽन्नस्य ग्रहो यद्वायुरनायुर्वा एष यद्वायुः॥१०॥

Padapatha (Word Split)

तत् । अपानेन । अजिघृक्षत् । तत् । आवयत् । सा । एषः । अन्नस्य । ग्रहः । यत् । वायुः । अनायुः । वा । एषः । यत् । वायुः ॥ १० ॥

IAST Transliteration

tad apānenājighṛkṣat | tad āvayat | saiṣo’nnasya graho yad vāyur anāyur vā eṣa yad vāyuḥ ||10||

Translation

The indwelling Self sought to take in nourishment through apāna; apāna drew it within. Thus the life-wind becomes the power by which food is received—without prāṇa-vāyu, the body’s ‘air’ is as though no air at all.

Academic Translation

That (Self) desired to seize (food) by the downward-breath (apāna). That (apāna) carried it in. This indeed is the grasping of food—namely, what is called vāyu (the vital air); for this is ‘non-air’ (anāyu) if it is not vāyu.

Verse Context

• Prāṇa (vāyu) as an instrument of the Ātman; embodiment and vital functions
• Mahavakya: Indirect: supports the Aitareya mahāvākya context by distinguishing the Self from its instruments (prāṇa, apāna) preparatory to ‘prajñānam brahma’.
• Rig
• Śākala (Aitareya tradition of the Ṛgveda) Shakha
• Chandas: Prose (Brāhmaṇa-style)