Shloka 47
Śrāddha-Kalpa: Pitṛ-Pūjā and Tithi-Phala (श्राद्धकल्पः पितृपूजा च तिथिफलम्)
अजोडन्निर्वरुणो मेष: सूर्यो5श्व॒ इति दर्शनम् “यह सुवर्ण अग्नि और सोमरूप है। इस बातको तुम निश्चितरूपसे जान लो। बकरा, अग्नि, भेड़, वरुण तथा घोड़ा सूर्यका अंश है। ऐसी दृष्टि रखनी चाहिये ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | ajo 'gnir varuṇo meṣaḥ sūryo 'śva iti darśanam | suvarṇa eṣa agni-soma-rūpaḥ | etad yuṣmābhiḥ niścayena jñeyam | ajas tv agniḥ, meṣo varuṇaḥ, aśvaḥ sūryāṃśa iti dṛṣṭiḥ kartavyā || kuñjarāśva-mṛgā nāgā mahīṣāś cāsurā iti | bhagunandana, kuñjarāḥ mṛgāś ca nāgāṃśāḥ | mahīṣā asurāṃśāḥ | kukkuṭaḥ sūkaraś ca rākṣasāṃśāḥ | iḍā-gauḥ dugdhaṃ somaś ca—ete sarve bhūmi-rūpā iti smṛtiḥ ||
Bhishma said: “This is the way of seeing taught by the seers: the goat is to be regarded as Agni, the ram as Varuṇa, and the horse as the Sun. Know with certainty that what is called ‘gold’ is of the nature of Agni and Soma. One should cultivate this contemplative vision—recognizing in these creatures the presence or portion of the corresponding deity. O descendant of Bhṛgu, elephants, deer, and serpents are said to partake of the Nāga-nature; buffaloes partake of the Asura-nature; the cock and the boar partake of the Rākṣasa-nature. And iḍā, the cow, milk, and Soma are remembered as belonging to the Earth in essence.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches a symbolic, dharmic way of perception: certain animals and substances are to be contemplated as manifestations or ‘portions’ (aṃśa) of specific cosmic powers (Agni, Varuṇa, Sūrya, etc.). This sacralizes the natural world and frames ritual and ethical conduct through a Vedic cosmological lens.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising the listener (addressed as ‘Bhagunandana’) by citing traditional classifications: animals and items are linked to devas, asuras, and rākṣasas, and certain nourishing principles (iḍā, cow, milk, Soma) are connected with Earth. The passage functions as doctrinal guidance on how to ‘see’ beings within a sacred order.