Shloka 87
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
द्विजवरो! सुवर्ण सम्पूर्ण पवित्र वस्तुओंमें अतिशय पवित्र है; उसे अग्नि और सोमरूप बताया गया है ।।
Vasiṣṭha uvāca: Dvijavara! suvarṇa-sampūrṇaṃ pavitra-vastūnāṃ madhye ’tiśayaṃ pavitram; tad agni-soma-rūpaṃ proktaṃ. Api cedam purā Rāma śrutaṃ me brahma-darśanam—pitāmahasya yad vṛttaṃ Brahmaṇaḥ paramātmanaḥ; tat te ’haṃ kathayiṣyāmi, śṛṇu.
वसिष्ठ बोले—हे द्विजवर! पूर्णतः शुद्ध सुवर्ण पवित्र वस्तुओं में अत्यन्त पवित्र है; उसे अग्नि और सोम-स्वरूप कहा गया है। और हे राम (परशुराम)! मैंने पूर्वकाल में ‘ब्रह्मदर्शन’ नामक जो वृत्तान्त सुना था—परमात्मा पितामह ब्रह्मा का—वही मैं तुम्हें सुनाता हूँ; ध्यान से सुनो।
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links material purity to ritual and metaphysical symbolism: pure gold is treated as supremely sacred and is said to embody Agni and Soma, indicating its suitability for sacrificial and dharmic use; it then pivots to a higher teaching—an account of ‘Brahma-darśana’—suggesting that external purity is ultimately oriented toward insight into the Supreme Self.
Vasiṣṭha addresses Rāma (Paraśurāma), first stating a traditional valuation of gold as a sacred substance with Agni–Soma character, and then introduces an ancient story he once heard about Pitāmaha Brahmā and the Supreme Self, announcing that he will now narrate it.