Shloka 22
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
नष्टमात्मनि संलीनं नाधिजम्मुर्ठुताशनम् । ततः संजातसंत्रासानग्निदर्शनलालसान्
naṣṭam ātmani saṁlīnaṁ nādhijagmur hutaśanam | tataḥ saṁjāta-saṁtrāsā agni-darśana-lālasān devatān ekaḥ jalacaro meḍhako ’gni-tejasā dagdhaḥ klānta-citto rasātalād ūrdhvam āgataḥ provāca ||
ভীষ্ম ক’লে—অগ্নি অন্তৰ্ধান হৈ নিজৰ ভিতৰতে লীন হৈছিল; সেয়ে দেৱগণে তেওঁৰ ওচৰলৈ যাব নোৱাৰিলে। তেতিয়া দেৱগণ ভীতও হ’ল আৰু অগ্নিদৰ্শনৰ আকাঙ্ক্ষাতো ব্যাকুল হ’ল। সেই সময় অগ্নিৰ তেজে দগ্ধ আৰু মনে ক্লান্ত হৈ ৰসাতলৰ পৰা ওপৰলৈ উঠি অহা এটা জলচৰ বেঙে দেৱগণক সম্বোধন কৰি ক’লে।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and divinity may withdraw beyond ordinary reach; when the great are perplexed, insight can arise from unexpected, humble sources. The episode also highlights the ethical value of truthful witness—one who has directly suffered the consequences (burnt by Agni) can speak with authority.
Agni has disappeared by merging into itself, so the gods cannot find or approach it. The gods become fearful yet eager to see Agni, and a water-dwelling frog—scorched by Agni’s heat and having come up from Rasātala—begins to speak to them, advancing the story.