Shloka 29
त्रिवर्गमूलनिश्चयः — Determining the Roots of Dharma, Artha, and Kāma
Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 123
अपां राज्येडसुराणां च विदधे वरुणं प्रभुम् मृत्युं प्राणेश्वरमथो तेजसां च हुताशनम्
apāṃ rājyed asurāṇāṃ ca vidadhe varuṇaṃ prabhum | mṛtyuṃ prāṇeśvaram atho tejasāṃ ca hutāśanam ||
Dijo Vasuharoma: Estableció a Varuṇa como soberano de las aguas y del dominio de los Asuras; nombró a la Muerte como señor de los alientos vitales, y al Fuego (Hutāśana) como regente del resplandor y la energía. El pasaje subraya una visión moral del orden cósmico: los poderes no son arbitrarios, sino oficios asignados para que el mundo funcione con gobierno justo y contención.
वसुहरोम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the universe is sustained by an ordered distribution of authority: each cosmic force has a defined jurisdiction (waters, life-breath, radiance). This models dharma as rightful placement of power and responsibility rather than arbitrary dominance.
Vasuharoma describes how a supreme ordainer assigns rulership: Varuṇa is set over waters (and the Asuras’ realm), Death over the life-breaths of beings, and Agni over tejas. It is a catalog of cosmic appointments illustrating structured governance of the world.