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

ବାୟୁଦେବ କହିଲେ—ସମସ୍ତ ଭକ୍ଷ୍ୟ-ଭୋଜ୍ୟ ପଦାର୍ଥମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଅନ୍ନକୁ ପରମ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ କୁହାଯାଏ; ଏବଂ ସମସ୍ତ ଦ୍ରବମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ, ସମସ୍ତ ପେୟମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ, ଜଳ ଉତ୍ତମ।

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.