Shloka 10

Brahmā’s Enumeration of Primacies (Ādi) and the Supremacy of Knowledge

Jñāna

Devanagari script

सर्वेषां भक्ष्यभोज्यानामन्नं परममुच्यते । द्रवाणां चैव सर्वेषां पेयानामाप उत्तमा:

Transliteration

sarveṣāṁ bhakṣyabhojyānām annaṁ paramam ucyate | dravāṇāṁ caiva sarveṣāṁ peyānām āpa uttamāḥ ||

Translation

Vāyu-deva said: “Among all things that are eaten and all foods that are enjoyed, cooked grain (anna) is declared the highest. And among all liquids—among all that are drunk—water is the best.”

Word by Word

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• भक्ष्यभोज्यानाम्: of foods (to be eaten and to be enjoyed/consumed)
• भक्ष्यभोज्यानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ष्य + भोज्य
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• अन्नम्: food, cooked rice
• अन्नम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• परमम्: supreme, highest
• परमम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• उच्यते: is said/called
• उच्यते: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Passive (Karmani)

• द्रवाणाम्: of liquids
• द्रवाणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• पेयानाम्: of drinkables
• पेयानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पेयं
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• आपः: waters, water
• आपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• उत्तमाः: best, highest
• उत्तमाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• वायुदेव (Vāyu-deva)
• अन्न (food/grain)
• आपः (water)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse ranks essentials: among foods, anna (staple nourishment) is foremost; among drinks, water is best. Ethically, it points to honoring basic sustenance as the foundation of life, restraint, and righteous living.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu-deva is speaking and delivering a concise instruction that elevates fundamental necessities—food and water—over luxuries, reinforcing a dharmic perspective on what truly sustains beings.