Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
द्विजवरो! सुवर्ण सम्पूर्ण पवित्र वस्तुओंमें अतिशय पवित्र है; उसे अग्नि और सोमरूप बताया गया है ।।
Vasiṣṭha uvāca: Dvijavara! suvarṇa-sampūrṇaṃ pavitra-vastūnāṃ madhye ’tiśayaṃ pavitram; tad agni-soma-rūpaṃ proktaṃ. Api cedam purā Rāma śrutaṃ me brahma-darśanam—pitāmahasya yad vṛttaṃ Brahmaṇaḥ paramātmanaḥ; tat te ’haṃ kathayiṣyāmi, śṛṇu.
قال فَسِشْتَه: «يا خيرَ ذوي الميلادين! إنّ الذهبَ إذا تمّ وصفا كان بالغَ القداسة بين الموادّ المقدّسة؛ ويُوصَف بأنّ له طبيعةَ أغني (Agni) وسوما (Soma). وزيادةً على ذلك، يا راما (باراشوراما)، لقد سمعتُ قديمًا خبرًا يُسمّى “رؤيةَ البراهمان” (Brahma-darśana): وهو السردُ العتيقُ المتعلّق بالجدّ الأكبر، براهما (Brahmā)، الذاتِ العليا. سأقصّه عليك؛ فاستمع.»
वसिष्ठ उवाच
The verse links material purity to ritual and metaphysical symbolism: pure gold is treated as supremely sacred and is said to embody Agni and Soma, indicating its suitability for sacrificial and dharmic use; it then pivots to a higher teaching—an account of ‘Brahma-darśana’—suggesting that external purity is ultimately oriented toward insight into the Supreme Self.
Vasiṣṭha addresses Rāma (Paraśurāma), first stating a traditional valuation of gold as a sacred substance with Agni–Soma character, and then introduces an ancient story he once heard about Pitāmaha Brahmā and the Supreme Self, announcing that he will now narrate it.