Upanishads · Bṛhadāraṇyaka 1,3.17
॥
Devanāgarī
अथ आत्मने अन्नाद्यम् आगायत् यद् हि किञ्च अन्नम् अद्यते अनेन एव तद् अद्यते इह प्रतितिष्ठति
Transliteration (IAST)
atha ātmane annādyam āgāyat yad hi kiñca annam adyate anena eva tad adyate iha pratitiṣṭhati
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
अथathathereupon; further
आत्मनेātmanefor himself; for himself
अन्नाद्यम्annādyameatable food (anna-adya — 'food for eating'); food; victuals
आगायत्āgāyatshe sang; she chanted
यद्yadwhen; that which
हिhiindeed; truly
किञ्चkiñcaanything; all that
अन्नम्annamfood; nourishment
अद्यतेadyateis eaten (pass. of √ad); is consumed; is eaten
अनेनanenaby this; by means of this
एवevaindeed; only
तद्tadthat; this
अद्यतेadyateis eaten (pass. of √ad); is consumed; is eaten
इहihahere; in this world
प्रतितिष्ठतिpratitiṣṭhatiis established (prati + √sthā); is established; stands
Translation
Then it sang out eatable food for itself. For whatever food is eaten is eaten by it alone; upon that it is established.
Version
5ddedadc80be · published Jul 27, 2026, 12:40:48 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Having saved its brethren, the prāṇa sings "for itself" — but mark what it sings for itself: not enjoyment and not the good (those very withheld shares that ruined the senses) but annādya, food, the fuel of service. The breath's only "self-interest" is what it lives by in order to keep carrying everyone else: so too a servant of the Lord asks for himself only what the service requires.
And at once it is stipulated: "whatever food is eaten is eaten by it alone": it is not the tongue or the stomach that eats — the prāṇa eats; every meal in the world passes through the one mouth of Life. This thought will presently unfold into a small drama: the senses will realise that all the food has gone to the prāṇa — and will ask for a share.