tā etā devatāḥ sṛṣṭā asmin mahaty arṇave prāpatan | tam aśanā-pipāsābhyām anvavārjat | tā enam abruvan āyatanaṁ naḥ prajānīhi yasmin pratiṣṭhitā annam adāmeti ||
"These deities, once created, fell into this great ocean (of existence). He subjected them to hunger and thirst. They said to Him: "Find us an abode in which we may dwell and eat food.""
What This Means:
The cosmic powers (deities of speech, breath, sight, etc.) found themselves thrown into existence and immediately experienced need — hunger and thirst. They asked the Creator for a stable home and sustenance.
Going Deeper:
The deities represent the cosmic functions that will become our faculties. Their hunger symbolizes the inherent incompleteness of manifest existence — everything created needs something. This is why the world is characterized by desire.
How To Apply This:
Your senses are always hungry — the eyes want to see more, the tongue wants more taste. This isn't a flaw; it's the nature of created existence. Recognize the hunger without being enslaved by it.
Key Sanskrit Terms: