if the pot itself swallows the whole food...

स्थाल्येव चेद् भक्तमश्नाति ततः कुतो भोक्तुर्भुक्तिः

sthālyeva ced bhaktamaśnāti tataḥ kuto bhokturbhuktiḥ

neetivaakyaamruta 10-196

if the pot in which food is cooked just eats away the food, then from where can those who want to eat get their food ?

स्थाली the pot used for cooking food

एव itself

भक्तं what is being prepared as food

अश्नाति eats

चेद् if

भोक्तुः for the one who wants to eat

भुक्तिः कुतः where is the food..