आपो वावान्नाद्भूयस्तस्माद्यदा सुवृ-ष्टिर्न भवति व्याधीयन्ते प्राणा अन्नं क-नीयो भविष्यतीत्यथ यदा सुवृष्टिर्भव-त्यानन्दिनः प्राणा भवन्त्यन्नं बहु भवि-ष्यतीत्याप एवेमा मूर्ता येयं पृथिवी य-दन्तरिक्षं यद्द्यौर्यत्पर्वता यद्देवमनुष्यायत्पशवश्च वयांसि च तृणवनस्पतयःश्वापदान्याकीटपतङ्गपिपीलकमाप एवेमामूर्ता अप उपास्स्वेति ॥ १ ॥
In plain words
Water is greater than food. When rains fail, creatures grow anxious, fearing food will be scarce. When rains fall, they rejoice, knowing food will be abundant. Water is all these tangible forms—the earth, the atmosphere, the sky, the mountains, gods and humans, animals and birds, grass and trees, and all creatures down to the smallest ant. Meditate upon water.
Close to the Sanskrit
Water indeed is greater than food. Therefore, when there is not good rain, living beings are distressed, thinking that food will become scanty. But when there is good rain, living beings become joyful, thinking that food will become abundant. Water indeed is these tangible forms: this earth, the atmosphere, heaven, mountains, gods and men, cattle and birds, grasses and trees, beasts of prey, down to worms, insects, and ants. Water indeed is all these tangible forms. Meditate upon water.