Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 33
Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda
Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity
पितर ऊचु. सुमहानेष प्रश्नो वै यस्त्वया समुदीरित:
pitaras ūcuḥ | sumahān eṣa praśno vai yas tvayā samudīritaḥ |
पितरों ने कहा—हे आकाशचारी देवदूत! तुमने जो प्रश्न उठाया है वह अत्यन्त महान है। तुमने हमसे एक अद्भुत और सूक्ष्म रहस्य पूछा है। इस पितृकर्म की देवता और मुनि भी प्रशंसा करते हैं।
देवदूत उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates pitṛ-karman (ancestral duties such as śrāddha) as a profound dharmic obligation. Honoring ancestors is portrayed as an ethically weighty act praised even by gods and sages, grounding social continuity, gratitude, and responsibility across generations.
The Pitṛs respond to a sky-traveling divine messenger, acknowledging that he has posed an exceptionally important and subtle question. They frame the topic—ancestral rites—as a revered secret of dharma, endorsed by higher beings, preparing to explain its significance.