Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 13
नक्षत्रेषु श्राद्धफलविधानम् (Śrāddha Outcomes According to Nakṣatras)
ददृशुः कृत्तिकास्तं तु बालमर्कसमद्युतिम् । जातस्नेहाच्च सौहार्दात् पुपुषु: स्तन्यविस्त्रवै:
dadṛśuḥ kṛttikās taṃ tu bālam arka-samad-yutim | jāta-snehāc ca sauhārdāt pupuṣuḥ stanya-vistravaiḥ ||
Bhīṣma said: “The Kṛttikā mothers beheld that child, radiant like the sun. As affection arose in their hearts and out of friendly tenderness, they nourished him by letting streams of milk flow from their breasts.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharma as compassionate care: when innocence and need are encountered, affection and goodwill naturally translate into protection and nourishment, even without prior obligation.
The Kṛttikās see a sun-radiant infant and, moved by sudden affection and friendly tenderness, they feed him with their breast-milk, thereby sustaining and raising him.