Shloka 91

ध्यानयज्ञः, संसार-विष-निरूपणम्, पाशुपतयोगः, परा-अपरा विद्या, चतुर्वस्था-विचारः (अध्यायः ८६)

Devanagari script

अस्यैवान्नमिदं सर्वं न सो ऽन्नं भवति स्वयम् स्वात्मना रक्षितं चाद्याद् अन्नभूतं न कुत्रचित्

Transliteration

asyaivānnamidaṃ sarvaṃ na so 'nnaṃ bhavati svayam svātmanā rakṣitaṃ cādyād annabhūtaṃ na kutracit

Translation

यह समस्त जगत् उसी का अन्न है; पर वह स्वयं किसी का ‘अन्न’ नहीं बनता। अपने ही आत्मस्वरूप से सुरक्षित रहकर वह अन्नरूप हुए पदार्थों का भोग करता है, किन्तु कहीं भी वह भक्ष्य-वस्तु नहीं बनता।

Word by Word

• asya eva: of him alone/indeed his

• annam: food, that which is enjoyed/consumed

• idam sarvam: all this

• na: not

• saḥ: he

• annam bhavati: becomes food (an object of consumption)

• svayam: by himself/in his own nature

• svātmanā: by his own Self

• rakṣitam: protected/guarded

• ca: and

• adyāt: may eat/should partake

• annabhūtam: that which has become food/fit to be enjoyed

• na kutracit: nowhere/never in any case

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames the Lord (Pati) as the ultimate enjoyer and sustainer while remaining untouched; in Linga worship, offerings symbolize that all consumables (anna) belong to Shiva, and the devotee partakes only as His protected prasada, reducing possessiveness (pasha).

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva is portrayed as transcendent and inviolable: He can ‘enjoy’ the manifested world without ever becoming an object enjoyed by anything else—signifying sovereignty (aiśvarya) and the Self-luminous protection of pure consciousness.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway aligns with Pashupata discipline of non-appropriation: accept sustenance as protected prasad (measured, non-greedy consumption) and maintain inner detachment so the pashu (soul) is not ‘consumed’ by pasha (sense-bondage).