Shloka 22
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
नष्टमात्मनि संलीनं नाधिजम्मुर्ठुताशनम् । ततः संजातसंत्रासानग्निदर्शनलालसान्
naṣṭam ātmani saṁlīnaṁ nādhijagmur hutaśanam | tataḥ saṁjāta-saṁtrāsā agni-darśana-lālasān devatān ekaḥ jalacaro meḍhako ’gni-tejasā dagdhaḥ klānta-citto rasātalād ūrdhvam āgataḥ provāca ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Le Feu avait disparu, caché en lui-même ; aussi les dieux ne purent-ils l’atteindre. Alors les dieux — saisis d’effroi mais avides de contempler Agni — furent apostrophés par une grenouille des eaux, brûlée par l’éclat de la flamme et lasse dans son esprit, qui était remontée des profondeurs de Rasātala, le monde d’en bas. Ainsi le récit se tourne vers le témoignage d’une créature humble, montrant que même le plus petit peut devenir témoin moral lorsque les puissants sont déconcertés.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and divinity may withdraw beyond ordinary reach; when the great are perplexed, insight can arise from unexpected, humble sources. The episode also highlights the ethical value of truthful witness—one who has directly suffered the consequences (burnt by Agni) can speak with authority.
Agni has disappeared by merging into itself, so the gods cannot find or approach it. The gods become fearful yet eager to see Agni, and a water-dwelling frog—scorched by Agni’s heat and having come up from Rasātala—begins to speak to them, advancing the story.