Agastyam Kumbhakarnam Cha — After-Meal Digestion Prayer — Word-by-Word Meaning

अगस्त्यं कुम्भकर्णं च — भोजनोत्तर (पाचन) मन्त्र

Every Sanskrit word explained in English

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Word-by-Word Breakdown

अगस्त्यं

Agastyam

the sage Agastya (who once drank up the entire ocean)

कुम्भकर्णं

Kumbhakarnam

Kumbhakarna (Ravana's brother, of immense appetite and digestion)

च

cha

and

शनिं

Shanim

Shani (Saturn)

बडबानलम्

Badabanalam

the Badabanala — the submarine fire that consumes the ocean's waters

आहारपरिणामार्थं

ahara-parinama-artham

for the proper digestion / assimilation of food

स्मरामि

smarami

I remember / call to mind

च

cha

and (also)

वृकोदरम्

Vrikodaram

Vrikodara (Bhima), 'wolf-bellied', of legendary digestive power

Complete Translation

For the proper digestion of my food, I remember Agastya, Kumbhakarna, Shani (Saturn), the submarine fire (Badabanala), and Vrikodara (Bhima) — all renowned for their great power of consuming and digesting.

Origin & History

Source: Traditional smarana (remembrance) shloka recited after meals

Author: Traditional

Period: Classical

This well-loved verse belongs to the everyday devotional culture surrounding food and health. Having eaten, the devotee remembers five beings celebrated for extraordinary powers of consumption and digestion — Agastya, who is said to have swallowed the ocean in a single sip; Kumbhakarna and Bhima, of vast appetite; Shani; and the submarine fire Badabanala that perpetually consumes the sea's waters. By calling them to mind 'for the digestion of food,' the verse playfully and devotionally invokes a strong inner fire, good health and easy rest after the meal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the Agastyam Kumbhakarnam verse?▼

It is a short prayer recited after meals (and at night before sleep) asking for the proper digestion of the food one has eaten — 'ahara-parinama-artham,' for the sake of the assimilation of food.

Why are Agastya, Kumbhakarna, Shani, Badabanala and Bhima remembered?▼

All five are famed in tradition for their immense capacity to consume and digest: sage Agastya drank up the entire ocean, Kumbhakarna and Bhima (Vrikodara) had legendary appetites, Shani is a powerful graha, and Badabanala is the submarine fire that swallows the ocean's waters. Remembering them is a prayer for an equally strong digestive power.

When is the best time to recite it?▼

Right after a meal, and most traditionally after the evening meal before lying down to sleep, so that the night's rest is comfortable and the food is well digested.

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