Shloka 29
प्रतिग्रहभेदः — The Distinction between Giving and Accepting
Vṛṣādarbhī–Saptarṣi Dialogue
विश्वे चाग्निमुखा देवा: संख्याता: पूर्वमेव ते । तेषां नामानि वक्ष्यामि भागाहाणां महात्मनाम्
viśve cāgnimukhā devāḥ saṅkhyātāḥ pūrvam eva te | teṣāṃ nāmāni vakṣyāmi bhāgahāṇāṃ mahātmanām ||
Bhīṣma dijo: «Ya te he enumerado a los Viśvedevas—las deidades cuya ‘boca’ es Agni, pues por el fuego reciben las ofrendas. Ahora declararé los nombres de esos magnánimos que tienen derecho a sus porciones asignadas en el sacrificio.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ritual order and dharma are upheld by recognizing the proper recipients of sacrificial offerings: the gods receive their portions through Agni, the consecrated medium of yajña. The verse emphasizes correct knowledge and proper allocation as part of righteous practice.
Bhishma continues his instruction by transitioning from a prior enumeration of the Viśvedevas to a forthcoming list of their individual names, explaining that these deities—whose offerings are conveyed via Agni—are entitled to shares in the sacrifice.