Shloka 14
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
अग्निदेव उस समय छिपे हुए थे, इसलिये वह शाप उन्हें नहीं प्राप्त हुआ; अतः देवताओ! अग्निके जो पुत्र उत्पन्न होगा, वह तुमलोगोंका सारा भय हर लेगा ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | agnidevaḥ tadā pracchanna āsīt, tasmāt sa śāpas taṃ na prāpa; ataḥ devāḥ, agneḥ yo putro janayiṣyate sa yuṣmākaṃ sarvaṃ bhayaṃ haniṣyati || anvīṣyatāṃ vai jvalanas tathā ca adya niyujyatām | tārakasya vadhopāyaḥ kathito vai mayānaghāḥ ||
Bhishma said: “At that time Agni, the fire-god, was concealed; therefore the curse did not reach him. Hence, O gods: the son who will be born of Agni will remove all your fear. Seek out Jvalana (Agni) and appoint him to this task today itself. O sinless ones, I have declared the means by which Taraka is to be slain.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage emphasizes upāya (practical means) aligned with dharma: fear is removed not by panic but by rightly identifying the capable agent (Agni) and promptly engaging him in the ordained task, while recognizing how conditions (such as concealment) can limit the reach of harmful consequences like a curse.
Bhishma explains to the gods that Agni was hidden, so a curse did not affect him. He then states that Agni’s future son will eliminate the gods’ fear and instructs them to find Agni and appoint him immediately, presenting this as the method for killing the demon Tāraka.