Shloka 336
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
परीयुज्वलनस्यार्थे न चाविन्दन् हुताशनम् । मेढकोंसे ऐसा कहकर देवता पुनः अग्निकी खोजके लिये इस पृथ्वीपर विचरने लगे; किंतु वे अग्निदेवको कहीं उपलब्ध न कर सके
parīyujvalanasyārthe na cāvindan hutāśanam |
Bhīṣma dit : «Cherchant le moyen de rallumer le feu sacré, ils ne purent trouver Agni (le dieu du Feu).» Ainsi, après avoir parlé à la grenouille, les dieux errèrent de nouveau sur la terre à la recherche d’Agni ; mais ils furent incapables de le découvrir où que ce fût—montrant que, lorsque l’ordre est troublé, la puissance sacrée peut se dérober même aux êtres divins.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the indispensability of Agni for yajña and dharmic order: when the sacred fire is absent or concealed, even well-intentioned efforts to restore ritual and harmony can be thwarted, urging humility and persistence in upholding dharma.
After addressing the frog, the gods resume their search across the earth to recover Agni so that the fire may be rekindled; however, they fail to locate him, indicating Agni’s withdrawal or concealment at this point in the story.