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Shloka 51

Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa

Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results

देवा ऊचु असुरस्तारको नाम ब्रह्मणो वरदर्पित: । अस्मान्‌ प्रबाधते वीर्याद्‌ वधस्तस्य विधीयताम्‌

bhīṣma uvāca | devā ūcuḥ: asuras tārako nāma brahmaṇo varadarpitaḥ | asmān prabādhate vīryād vadhastasya vidhīyatām ||

Bhishma sprach: Die Götter sagten: „O Agni! Es gibt einen Asura namens Tāraka, der, vom Hochmut über Brahmās Gabe berauscht, uns alle durch die Macht seiner Tapferkeit bedrängt. Darum soll ein Mittel zu seiner Vernichtung ersonnen werden.“

देवाःthe gods
देवाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदेव
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
ऊचुःsaid
ऊचुः:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPerfect, 3rd, Plural
असुरःan asura (demon)
असुरः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअसुर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तारकःTāraka
तारकः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootतारक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
नामby name / named
नाम:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनामन्
ब्रह्मणःof Brahmā
ब्रह्मणः:
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मन्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
वरby a boon
वर:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootवर
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
दर्पितःmade proud / intoxicated with pride
दर्पितः:
TypeAdjective
Rootदर्पित
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अस्मान्us
अस्मान्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
Form—, Accusative, Plural
प्रबाधतेharasses / oppresses
प्रबाधते:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-बाध्
FormPresent, 3rd, Singular
वीर्यात्by (his) prowess / due to (his) strength
वीर्यात्:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootवीर्य
FormNeuter, Ablative, Singular
वधःkilling / slaying
वधः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवध
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तस्यof him / his
तस्य:
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
विधीयताम्let it be arranged / let it be done
विधीयताम्:
TypeVerb
Rootवि-धा
FormImperative (Passive), 3rd, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
D
Devas
A
Agni
T
Tāraka (asura)
B
Brahmā
B
Brahmā’s boon (vara)

Educational Q&A

Power secured through a boon can still become a cause of adharma when joined with arrogance (darpa). The verse highlights the ethical need to restrain oppressive force and to restore cosmic order through rightful means.

The devas report to Agni that the asura Tāraka, emboldened by Brahmā’s boon, is tormenting them. They request that a plan or method be arranged for his destruction.