आपो वावान्नाद्भूयस्तस्माद्यदा सुवृष्टिर्न भवति व्याधीयन्ते प्राणा अन्नं कनीयो भविष्यतीत्यथ यदा सुवृष्टिर्भवत्यानन्दिनः प्राणा भवन्त्यन्नं बहु भविष्यतीत्याप एवेमा मूर्ता येयं पृथिवी यदन्तरिक्षं यद्द्यौर्यत्पर्वता यद्देवमनुष्यायत्पशवश्च वयांसि च तृणवनस्पतयः श्वापदान्याकीटपतङ्गपिपीलकमाप एवेमा मूर्ता अप उपास्स्वेति ॥ ७.१०.१ ॥
In plain words
"The waters are greater than food. Therefore, when there is not good rain, the breaths fall sick, thinking, 'Food will be scarce.' And when there is good rain, the breaths become glad, thinking, 'Food will be plentiful.' It is the waters that have taken these solid forms — this earth, the middle region, the sky, the mountains, gods and men, cattle and birds, grasses and trees, wild beasts down to worms and insects and ants; the waters have taken these solid forms. Worship the waters."
The commentators
Chāndogyopaniṣadbhāṣyam· bhāṣya
आपो वाव अन्नाद्भूयस्य अन्नकारणत्वात् । यस्मादेवं तस्मात् यदा यस्मिन्काले सुवृष्टिः सवृहिता शोभना वृष्टिः न भवति, तदा व्याधीयन्ते प्राणा दुःखिनो भवन्ति । किंनिमित्तमिति, आह— अन्नमस्मिन्संवत्सरे नः कनीयः अल्पतरं भविष्यतीति । अथ पुनर्यदा सुवृष्टिर्भवति, तदा आनन्दिनः सुखिनः हृष्टाः प्राणाः प्राणिनः भवन्ति अन्नं
In plain words
Water is greater than food, because food owes its origin to water. This is why, when adequate and nourishing rain fails to fall, living beings are stricken with distress and misery, thinking: 'Food will be meager and scarce for us this year.' But when ample rain falls, creatures rejoice and become happy, their spirits lifted by the promise of abundant food.
Close to the Sanskrit
Water indeed is greater than food, because of food being caused by it. Since this is so, therefore when at any time good rain, copious and splendid rain, does not happen, then breaths are afflicted, become miserable. With what cause? it says: 'Food in this year will be for us smaller, less.' And again when good rain happens, then joyful, happy, thrilled breaths, living beings, become food...