Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 147
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
इस प्रकार पूर्वकालमें जब कि सृष्टिके प्रारम्भका समय था, वरुण-शरीर धारण करनेवाले सुरश्रेष्ठ महात्मा रुद्रके यञ्ञमें पूर्वोक्त वृत्तान्त घटित हुआ था ।।
iti prakāraṁ pūrvakāle yadā sṛṣṭeḥ prārambhakāla āsīt, varuṇa-śarīra-dhāriṇāṁ suraśreṣṭhaṁ mahātmā rudrasya yajñe pūrvokto vṛttāntaḥ samabhavat. annam eva brahmā paśupatiḥ śarvo rudraḥ prajāpatiḥ. agner apatyam etad vai suvarṇam iti dhāraṇā.
Vasiṣṭha said: Thus, in ancient times, at the very beginning of creation, this previously described event occurred in the sacrifice of the great-souled Rudra, the foremost among the gods, who had assumed the form associated with Varuṇa. Food itself is regarded as Brahmā, Paśupati, Śarva, Rudra, and Prajāpati; and this gold is held by all to be the offspring of Agni.
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sacralizes essentials of life and society: food (anna) is identified with major divine powers, implying that nourishment is not merely material but a dharmic, sacred foundation. Gold (suvarṇa), linked to Agni as its 'offspring,' suggests that wealth should be understood as arising from and governed by the sanctity of fire/ritual—therefore to be used responsibly, not greedily.
Vasiṣṭha recalls an ancient incident that took place at the dawn of creation during a sacrifice performed by Rudra (described as assuming a Varuṇa-associated form). He then states the doctrinal identifications: food is regarded as Brahmā, Paśupati, Śarva, Rudra, and Prajāpati, and gold is commonly held to be born of Agni.