Shloka 6
Puruṣaikatva-vyākhyāna: The One Virāṭ Puruṣa and the Many ‘Puruṣas’
Rudra–Brahmā Saṃvāda
देवताओ! जहाँ कहीं भी यज्ञमें पशुका वध हो, वह सत्पुरुषोंका धर्म नहीं है। यह श्रेष्ठ सत्ययुग चल रहा है। इसमें पशुका वध कैसे किया जा सकता है? ।। भीष्म उवाच तेषां संवदतामेवमृषीणां विबुधैः सह । मार्गगतो नृपश्रेष्ठस्तं देशं प्राप्तवान् वसु:,भीष्मजी कहते हैं--राजन्! इस प्रकार जब ऋषियोंका देवताओंके साथ संवाद चल रहा था, उसी समय नृपश्रेष्ठ वसु भी उस मार्गसे आ निकले और उस स्थानपर पहुँच गये
bhīṣma uvāca | teṣāṃ saṃvadatām evam ṛṣīṇāṃ vibudhaiḥ saha | mārgagato nṛpaśreṣṭhas taṃ deśaṃ prāptavān vasuḥ ||
Bhishma said: “O gods! Wherever in a sacrifice an animal is slain, that is not the dharma of the righteous. This is the excellent Satya Yuga; how could an animal be killed in it?” While the sages were thus engaged in dialogue together with the gods, the foremost of kings, Vasu, happened to be traveling along that road and arrived at that very place.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage situates a moral inquiry about dharma—especially the legitimacy of animal killing in sacrifice—by emphasizing that ethical discernment arises through dialogue among sages and gods, and that rulers (like Vasu) are expected to learn and govern in light of such higher deliberation.
As the sages and the gods continue their discussion, King Vasu, traveling along the road, arrives at the location of the debate, setting up his involvement as a witness or participant in the unfolding ethical controversy.