Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 132
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
ब्रह्मणस्तु कवे: पुत्रा वारुणास्तेडप्युदाह्मता: । अष्टौ प्रसवजैर्युक्ता गुणैब्रह्मविद: शुभा:
brahmaṇas tu kaveḥ putrā vāruṇās te 'py udāhṛtāḥ | aṣṭau prasavajair yukta guṇair brahmavidaḥ śubhāḥ ||
वसिष्ठ बोले—ब्रह्मा के पुत्र कवि के पुत्र भी ‘वारुण’ नाम से कहे जाते हैं। वे आठ हैं, पुत्रोचित गुणों से युक्त, शुभलक्षण और ब्रह्मज्ञानी माने गए हैं।
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links noble lineage with inner qualification: true worth is shown through innate virtues (guṇas) and Brahman-knowledge (brahmavidyā), marking a person as ‘auspicious’ and ethically exemplary.
Vasiṣṭha is describing a genealogical-spiritual line: Kavi, a descendant of Brahmā, has eight sons who are collectively designated ‘Vāruṇas’, and they are characterized as virtuous and realized in Brahman.