अहं वैश्वानरो भूत्वा प्राणिनां देहमाश्रितः । प्राणापानसमायुक्तः पचाम्यन्नं चतुर्विधम् ॥ १४ ॥
ahaṁ vaiśhvānaro bhūtvā prāṇināṁ deham āśhritaḥ prāṇāpāna-samāyuktaḥ pachāmy annaṁ chatur-vidham
Translation
Becoming Vaishvanara, the fire of digestion, I dwell in the bodies of living beings and, joined with the incoming and outgoing breaths, I digest the four kinds of food.
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
मैं ही सब प्राणियों के शरीर में स्थित वैश्वानर (जठराग्नि) बनकर, प्राण और अपान से युक्त होकर, चारों प्रकार के अन्न को पचाता हूँ।
Commentary
This is the verse most often chanted before meals. It reminds us that even digestion is God at work within us, as Vaishvanara, the fire in the belly. The "four kinds of food" are traditionally what is chewed, sucked, licked and swallowed. Eating becomes an offering to the fire of God inside: a small daily yajna.
Spotted a mistake?
If you find any grammatical, Hindi, English, mantra-text or other mistake on this page, tell us — we will correct it within 24 hours.