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Shloka 13

Vasiṣṭha on Saṃsāra, Guṇas, and Misattributed Agency

Mahābhārata 12.292

विश्वामित्रस्य पुत्रत्वमृचीकतनयो5गमत्‌ | ऋग्भि: स्तुत्वा महाबाहो देवान्‌ वै यज्ञभागिन:,महाबाहो! ऋचीकके पुत्र यज्ञमें भाग लेनेवाले देवताओंकी वेदमन्त्रोंद्वारा स्तुति करके विश्वामित्रके पुत्र हो गये

Viśvāmitrasya putratvam ṛcīkatanayo ’gamat | ṛgbhiḥ stutvā mahābāho devān vai yajñabhāginaḥ ||

Parāśara sprach: „O du Mächtigarmiger, der Sohn des Ṛcīka erlangte den Stand, als Sohn Viśvāmitras zu gelten. Nachdem er mit Hymnen des Ṛgveda die Götter gepriesen hatte, die ihren Anteil am Opfer empfangen, wurde er (als) Viśvāmitras Sohn anerkannt.“

विश्वामित्रस्यof Viśvāmitra
विश्वामित्रस्य:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootविश्वामित्र
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
पुत्रत्वम्sonship, the state of being a son
पुत्रत्वम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपुत्रत्व
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
ऋचीकतनयःthe son of Ṛcīka
ऋचीकतनयः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootऋचीक-तनय
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अगमत्went, attained
अगमत्:
TypeVerb
Rootगम्
FormAorist (Luṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
ऋग्भिःwith ṛk-verses (Vedic hymns)
ऋग्भिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootऋच्
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Plural
स्तुत्वाhaving praised
स्तुत्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootस्तु
FormAbsolutive (Gerund), Active
महाबाहोO mighty-armed one
महाबाहो:
TypeNoun
Rootमहाबाहु
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
देवान्the gods
देवान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदेव
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
वैindeed, surely
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै
यज्ञभागिनःsharing in the sacrificial portion; entitled to a share in the sacrifice
यज्ञभागिनः:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootयज्ञ-भागिन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural

पराशर उवाच

पराशर (Parāśara)
विश्वामित्र (Viśvāmitra)
ऋचीक (Ṛcīka)
देवाः (the gods)
ऋग्वेद/ऋचः (Ṛgvedic hymns)
यज्ञ (sacrifice)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the ethical-religious idea that rightful ritual action—praising the gods with Vedic hymns and honoring sacrificial order—can confer recognized status and affiliation (here, ‘sonship’), showing how merit and dharmic conduct shape social and genealogical identity.

Parāśara states that Ṛcīka’s son attained the status of being Viśvāmitra’s son after praising the gods who receive sacrificial shares with Ṛgvedic hymns, indicating a transformation or recognition of lineage through ritual praise.