Shloka 123
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
निसर्गाद् ब्रह्मणश्वापि वरुणो यादसाम्पति:
nisargād brahmaṇaś cāpi varuṇo yādasāṃ patiḥ | tataḥ brahmājñayā jalajantūnāṃ svāmī varuṇarūpī bhagavān śivaḥ sarveṣāṃ pūrvaṃ sūryasamāna-tejasvinaṃ bhṛguputra-rūpeṇa gṛhītavān | punaḥ sa eva aṅgirasaṃ agneḥ santānaṃ niścitavān |
Vasiṣṭha said: From the very emanation of Brahmā, Varuṇa too arose as the lord of aquatic beings. Then, by Brahmā’s command, the Lord Śiva—assuming the form of Varuṇa as the master of water-born creatures—first accepted the radiant one, equal in splendor to the sun, as the son of Bhṛgu. Thereafter, he also determined Aṅgiras to be the offspring of Fire.
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
That cosmic roles and spiritual lineages are established through higher ordinance (Brahmā’s command) and upheld by divine agency (Śiva/Varuṇa), illustrating dharma as ordered assignment and faithful execution of rightful authority.
Vasiṣṭha describes a creation-lineage sequence: Varuṇa arises from Brahmā’s emanation; Śiva, taking Varuṇa’s form under Brahmā’s command, first accepts a radiant being as Bhṛgu’s son, and then designates Aṅgiras as the progeny of Agni.