Shloka 19
Brahmacarya-Upāya: Jñāna, Śauca, and the Mind’s Role in Desire (शान्ति पर्व, अध्याय २०७)
अज्जुष्ठात् ससूजे ब्रह्मा मरीचेरपि पूर्वजम् । सो5भवद् भरतश्रेष्ठ दक्षो नाम प्रजापति:,भरतमश्रेष्ठ! ब्रह्माजीने दक्षको अपने अँगूठेसे उत्पन्न किया था। वे मरीचिसे भी बड़े थे। इसीलिये प्रजापतिके पदपर दक्ष प्रतिष्ठित हुए
aṅguṣṭhāt sasṛje brahmā marīcer api pūrvajam | so 'bhavad bharataśreṣṭha dakṣo nāma prajāpatiḥ ||
Bhishma said: “From his thumb Brahmā brought forth Dakṣa, who was even senior to Marīci. Therefore, O best of the Bharatas, Dakṣa became established in the rank of Prajāpati.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Cosmic and social offices (like Prajāpati) are portrayed as grounded in ordained origin and seniority; legitimacy arises from one’s place in the created order and the responsibility suited to that station.
Bhīṣma explains a genealogical-cosmic detail: Brahmā created Dakṣa from his thumb; Dakṣa is described as senior even to Marīci, and thus he is established as a Prajāpati (progenitor).