Shloka 11

Adhyaya 41 — Yogic Conduct and the Discipline Leading to Siddhi

Sanskrit

भैक्ष्यं यवागूं तक्रं वा पयो यावकमेव वा ।

फलं मूलं प्रियङ्गुं वा कणपिण्याकसक्तवः ॥

Transliteration

bhaikṣyaṃ yavāgūṃ takraṃ vā payo yāvakam eva vā | phalaṃ mūlaṃ priyaṅguṃ vā kaṇapiṇyākasaktavaḥ ||

Translation

施食之饭、薏麦（大麦）稀粥、酪乳、牛乳，或仅以大麦为食；果实、根茎，或普利央古（priyaṅgu）之谷粒；以及由诸谷、油饼渣与面粉所制之食——此等皆为所荐之简朴饮食。

Word by Word

• भैक्ष्यम्: alms-food, food obtained by begging
• भैक्ष्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)

• यवागूम्: gruel, thin porridge
• यवागूम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यवागू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; (feminine, accusative singular)

• तक्रम्: buttermilk
• तक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (particle of alternative: “or”)

• पयः: milk
• पयः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)

• यावकम्: barley (food), barley-grain preparation
• यावकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यावक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic/limiting particle: “indeed/only”)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (particle of alternative: “or”)

• फलम्: fruit
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)

• मूलम्: root (edible root)
• मूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)

• प्रियङ्गुम्: priyaṅgu (a grain/plant; panic seed)
• प्रियङ्गुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रियङ्गु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (particle of alternative: “or”)

• कणपिण्याकसक्तवः: (or) grains, oil-cake, and flour/meal
• कणपिण्याकसक्तवः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण + पिण्याक + सक्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; (masculine, nominative plural); समाहार-द्वन्द्वः/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (list of items)

Speakers

• Didactic narrator (within the Purāṇic dialogue) instructing on yogic discipline; specific named speakers not explicit from isolated verses

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Yoga
• Dharma
• Sannyāsa / Bhikṣu conduct
• Āhāra-niyama (dietary discipline)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse promotes simplicity and non-indulgence: a yogin should sustain the body with light, readily available, non-luxurious foods so that attention can remain on practice rather than taste, acquisition, or social status.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily Dharma/Ācāra instruction rather than sarga/pratisarga/vaṃśa/manvantara/vaṃśānucarita. It belongs to the Purāṇic didactic layer (ācāra-kathana) that supports dharma and yoga.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Light food’ symbolizes reducing tamas and rajas; minimal, sattvic sustenance supports prāṇa steadiness and mental clarity, prerequisites for dhyāna and samādhi.