Shloka 27
“मनुष्य यज्ञ आदिमें घीकी आहुति देकर हमारे लिये ऊपरकी ओर वर्षा करते थे और हम उनके लिये नीचेकी ओर पानी बरसाते थे; परंतु अब उनके यज्ञकर्मका लोप हो जानेसे हमारा जीवन संशयमें पड़ गया है ।। अत्र नि:श्रेयसं यन्नस्तद् ध्यायस्व पितामह । त्वत्प्रभावसमुत्थोडसौ स्वभावो नो विनश्यति,“पितामह! अब जिस उपायसे हमारा कल्याण हो सके, वह सोचिये। आपके प्रभावसे हमें जो दैवस्वभाव प्राप्त हुआ था, वह नष्ट हो रहा है”
manuṣyā yajñādau ghṛtāhutiṃ dattvā asmākaṃ kṛte ūrdhvaṃ varṣaṃ kurvanti sma, vayaṃ ca teṣāṃ kṛte adho jalaṃ varṣayāma sma; kintu idānīṃ teṣāṃ yajñakarmalopena asmākaṃ jīvitaṃ saṃśaye patitam. atra niḥśreyasaṃ yan naḥ tad dhyāyasva pitāmaha. tvatprabhāvasamuttho 'sau svabhāvo no vinaśyati.
Bhishma said: “In former times, men began their sacrifices by offering ghee, sending the oblation upward for our sake; and we, in return, sent water downward as rain for theirs. But now, with the decline and disappearance of sacrificial rites, our very existence has fallen into uncertainty. Grandfather, consider what course will bring us true welfare. The divine nature that arose from your power is now being lost.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses reciprocity between human duty (yajña and offerings) and cosmic support (rain and sustenance). When dharmic practices that uphold this exchange decline, both human society and the divine order become unstable; therefore one should seek niḥśreyasa—measures that restore true welfare and right order.
Bhishma reports a breakdown of the traditional exchange: humans once offered ghee in sacrifice, and the divine side responded with rain. With sacrifices neglected, the speakers’ continued existence is threatened, so they appeal to the ‘Pitāmaha’ to reflect on a remedy that will secure their welfare and preserve their divinely granted nature.