Maitri (Maitrāyaṇīya) Upaniṣad 6.12

6.12

athānyatrāpi uktam sarvāṇi ha vā imāni bhūtānyaharahaḥ prapatantyannamabhijighṛkṣamāṇāni sūryo raśmibhirādadātyannaṃ tenāsau tapatyannenābhiṣiktāḥ pacantīme prāṇā agnirvā annenojjvalatyannakāmenedaṃ prakalpitaṃ brahmaṇā ato'nnamātmetyupāsītetveyaṃ hyāha | anādbhūtāni jāyante jātānyannena vardhante adyate'tti ca bhūtāni tasmādannaṃ taducyate ||

12. Now, it has elsewhere been said: ‘Verily, all things here fly forth, day by day, desiring to get food. The sun takes food to himself by his rays. Thereby he gives forth heat. When supplied with food, living beings here digest. Fire, verily, blazes up with food.’ This world was fashioned by

Brahma with a desire for food. Hence, one should reverence food as the Soul (Ātman). For thus has it been said :— From food created things are born. By food, when born, do they grow up. It both is eaten and eats things. Because of that it is called food.