Shloka 336
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
परीयुज्वलनस्यार्थे न चाविन्दन् हुताशनम् । मेढकोंसे ऐसा कहकर देवता पुनः अग्निकी खोजके लिये इस पृथ्वीपर विचरने लगे; किंतु वे अग्निदेवको कहीं उपलब्ध न कर सके
parīyujvalanasyārthe na cāvindan hutāśanam |
Bhishma sprach: „Auf der Suche nach dem Mittel, das heilige Feuer wieder zu entfachen, konnten sie Agni (den Feuergott) nicht finden.“ So wanderten die Götter, nachdem sie mit dem Frosch gesprochen hatten, erneut über die Erde, um Agni zu suchen; doch nirgends vermochten sie ihn zu entdecken—ein Hinweis darauf, dass, wenn die Ordnung gestört ist, selbst heilige Macht sich verbergen kann, sogar vor göttlichen Wesen.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the indispensability of Agni for yajña and dharmic order: when the sacred fire is absent or concealed, even well-intentioned efforts to restore ritual and harmony can be thwarted, urging humility and persistence in upholding dharma.
After addressing the frog, the gods resume their search across the earth to recover Agni so that the fire may be rekindled; however, they fail to locate him, indicating Agni’s withdrawal or concealment at this point in the story.