Shloka 4

Rules of Edible and Inedible Foods

Devanagari script

राजान्नं वर्तकान्नं च षंढान्नं चर्म्मकारिणाम् । गणान्नं गणिकान्नं च षडन्नं च विवर्जयेत्

Transliteration

rājānnaṃ vartakānnaṃ ca ṣaṃḍhānnaṃ carmmakāriṇām | gaṇānnaṃ gaṇikānnaṃ ca ṣaḍannaṃ ca vivarjayet

Translation

രാജാവിൽ നിന്നു ലഭിക്കുന്ന അന്നം, വാർത്തക/ദൂത-സേവകന്റെ അന്നം, ഷണ്ഡന്റെ അന്നം, ചർമ്മകാരന്റെ അന്നം, ഗണ (പരിചാരക-വൃന്ദം)ങ്ങളുടെ അന്നം, ഗണികയുടെ അന്നം, കൂടാതെ ‘ഷഡന്നം’—ഇവയെല്ലാം വർജിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• राज-अन्नम्: food of a king
• राज-अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (राज्ञः अन्नम्)

• वर्तक-अन्नम्: food of a vārtaka (bird-catcher/low occupation)
• वर्तक-अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्तक (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वर्तकस्य अन्नम्)

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

• षंढ-अन्नम्: food of an eunuch
• षंढ-अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षंढ (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (षंढस्य अन्नम्)

• चर्म्म-कारिणाम्: of leather-workers
• चर्म्म-कारिणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर्म्म (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (चर्म्मं करोति इति)

• गण-अन्नम्: food of a troupe/company
• गण-अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गणस्य अन्नम्)

• गणिका-अन्नम्: food of a courtesan
• गणिका-अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणिका (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गणिकायाः अन्नम्)

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

• षड्-अन्नम्: sixfold food / food of six kinds
• षड्-अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षड् (संख्याशब्द, प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (षड् अन्नानि यस्मिन्/षडन्नम्)

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

• विवर्जयेत्: should avoid
• विवर्जयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; लोटार्थे विधि—‘should avoid’

Speaker

Not specified in the provided excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses of Svarga-khaṇḍa 56).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: राजान्नम्=राज-अन्नम्; वर्तकान्नम्=वर्तक-अन्नम्; षंढान्नम्=षंढ-अन्नम्; गणान्नम्=गण-अन्नम्; गणिकान्नम्=गणिका-अन्नम्; षडन्नम्=षड्-अन्नम् (ड् + अ → डन्न).

FAQs

What is the main teaching of this verse?

It gives a dharma-based guideline on āhāra (food ethics): certain sources of food are to be avoided, emphasizing purity, restraint, and careful acceptance of gifts.

Why would food from specific people be discouraged in Purāṇic dharma texts?

Such injunctions often reflect concerns about moral influence, social obligations created by accepting gifts, and ritual/ethical notions of purity tied to livelihood and conduct.

What does “ṣaḍ-anna” mean here?

Literally “six foods” or a “sixfold food category.” Its exact referent varies by tradition and context; a precise identification usually requires the surrounding commentary or adjacent verses in this chapter.