Shloka 183
Adhyāya 284: Tapas as a Corrective to Household Attachment
Parāśara’s Instruction
अश्वमेधसहस्रस्य वाजपेयशतस्य च । प्रजापते मत्प्रसादात्ू फलभागी भविष्यसि,'प्रजापते! मेरे प्रसादसे तुम्हें एक हजार अश्वमेध तथा एक सौ वाजपेय यज्ञका फल मिलेगा”
aśvamedhasahasrasya vājapeyaśatasya ca | prajāpate matprasādāt phalabhāgī bhaviṣyasi ||
Bhīṣma sprach: „O Prajāpati, durch meine Gunst wirst du Anteil haben am Verdienst — an der Frucht — von tausend Aśvamedha-Opfern und hundert Vājapeya-Riten.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that the ‘fruit’ of great ritual acts (Aśvamedha, Vājapeya) is not merely mechanical; it can be granted or shared through the moral-spiritual authority and blessing (prasāda) of a revered figure, emphasizing the primacy of dharma and sanctified intention over outward grandeur.
Bhīṣma, speaking as an authoritative elder, addresses Prajāpati and declares that through Bhīṣma’s own favor, Prajāpati will receive a share in the merit equivalent to performing vast numbers of eminent royal sacrifices—an elevated commendation that frames merit as transmissible through blessing.