Shloka 156

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

अन्नं बलाय मे भूमेरपामग्न्यनिलस्य च / भवत्येतत्परिणतौ ममाप्यव्याहतं सुखम्

Transliteration

annaṃ balāya me bhūmerapāmagnyanilasya ca / bhavatyetatpariṇatau mamāpyavyāhataṃ sukham

Translation

അന്നം എനിക്കു ബലം ആകുന്നു; ഭൂമിക്കും ജലത്തിനും അഗ്നിക്കും വായുവിനും അതുപോലെ. അത് പരിണമിക്കുമ്പോൾ എനിക്കും തടസ്സമില്ലാത്ത സുഖം ലഭിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• बलाय: for strength
• बलाय: Sampradana (Recipient/Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• मे: my
• मे: Shashthi-sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भूमेः: of the earth
• भूमेः: Shashthi-sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अपाम्: of the waters
• अपाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (बहुवचन-प्रयोगः), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अग्नि: of fire
• अग्नि: Shashthi-sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (समासे पूर्वपदत्वेन)

• अनिलस्य: of wind
• अनिलस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भवति: becomes/arises
• भवति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; निर्देशवाचक-सर्वनाम

• परिणतौ: upon transformation/at maturity
• परिणतौ: Adhikarana (Locus/Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिणति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• मम: of me/my
• मम: Shashthi-sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अपि: also
• अपि: Emphasis/Additive (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• अव्याहतम्: unhindered/unobstructed
• अव्याहतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + व्याहत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्गपूर्वक (unobstructed) विशेषणम् (qualifying सुखम्)

• सुखम्: happiness/well-being
• सुखम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Āhāra as a dharmic support of life: when food is properly assimilated, it strengthens both the individual and the elemental balance, producing unobstructed well-being.

Vedantic Theme: Interdependence of embodied self and bhūtas; harmony (sāmya) as a condition for clarity and steadiness of mind.

Application: Eat in a way that supports digestion and balance (quantity, quality, timing); cultivate gratitude and avoid waste, recognizing food’s elemental and sacred dimension.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: adhyātma-ecology (body–elements continuum)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.155: body constituents and prāṇa as regulating principle

Characters & Entities

• Earth (Bhumi)
• Waters (Apas)
• Fire (Agni)
• Wind (Anila/Vayu)

FAQs

What is the importance of food (anna) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames food as a cosmic support: it strengthens the individual and sustains the elemental order (earth, water, fire, wind), implying that righteous food-related acts (like annadāna and offerings) uphold dharma and welfare.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana death rituals like śrāddha or piṇḍa-dāna?

By describing food’s transformative power and its role in welfare, the verse supports the ritual logic that offerings of food (anna/piṇḍa) are not merely symbolic—they are understood as effective support within the cosmic system that includes embodied and subtle states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat food as sacred: eat ethically, avoid waste, and practice annadāna/feeding others—seeing it as strengthening life and supporting harmony in the wider natural order.