In Bhagavad Gita 15.14, Krishna says that becoming the digestive fire in living beings, joined with the incoming and outgoing breaths, he digests the four kinds of food.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अहं वैश्वानरो भूत्वा
प्राणिनां देहमाश्रितः
प्राणापानसमायुक्तः
पचाम्यन्नं चतुर्विधम् ॥ १५-१४ ॥
ahaṃ vaiśvānaro bhūtvā
prāṇināṃ dehamāśritaḥ
prāṇāpānasamāyuktaḥ
pacāmyannaṃ caturvidham
English transliteration aham vaishvaanaro bhootvaa
praaninaam dehamaashritah
praanaapaanasamaayuktah
pachaamyannam chaturvidham ॥ 15.14 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Becoming the fire of life, I dwell in the bodies of living beings, and joined with the incoming and outgoing breaths, I digest the four kinds of food.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अहम् aham | I |
| वैश्वानरः vaiśvānaraḥ | the fire of life, digestive fire |
| भूत्वा bhūtvā | becoming |
| प्राणिनाम् prāṇinām | of living beings |
| देहम् deham | body |
| आश्रितः āśritaḥ | dwelling in |
| प्राणापानसमायुक्तः prāṇāpānasamāyuktaḥ | joined with the incoming and outgoing breaths prāṇa (incoming breath) + apāna (outgoing breath) + samāyuktaḥ (joined) |
| पचामि pacāmi | digest |
| अन्नम् annam | food |
| चतुर्विधम् caturvidham | of four kinds catur (four) + vidham (kinds) |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–haṃ vaiś–vā–na–ro bhūt–vā 8 syllables a-ham vaish-vaa-na-ro bhoot-vaa
- prā–ṇi–nāṃ de–ha–māś–ri–taḥ | 8 syllables praa-ni-naam de-ha-maash-ri-tah
- prā–ṇā–pā–na–sa–mā–yuk–taḥ 8 syllables praa-naa-paa-na-sa-maa-yuk-tah
- pa–cām–yan–naṃ ca–tur–vi–dham || 15-14 8 syllables pa-chaam-yan-nam cha-tur-vi-dham
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 15 Verse 14
Context
Krishna describes his presence in the world (15.12–15.15).
Meaning
The Divine dwells in every body as vaiśvānara, the fire of digestion and life. Together with prāṇa and apāna, the vital breaths, it digests the four kinds of food, traditionally those that are chewed, swallowed, licked and sucked.
Even the most ordinary bodily process, digestion, is the Divine at work within us. Many recite this verse before meals.
In Practice
Recite or remember this verse before a meal today, and eat with gratitude and awareness.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 15: Purushottama Yoga (The Supreme Person). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.