Shloka 19
Brahmacarya-Upāya: Jñāna, Śauca, and the Mind’s Role in Desire (शान्ति पर्व, अध्याय २०७)
अज्जुष्ठात् ससूजे ब्रह्मा मरीचेरपि पूर्वजम् । सो5भवद् भरतश्रेष्ठ दक्षो नाम प्रजापति:
aṅguṣṭhāt sasṛje brahmā marīcer api pūrvajam | so 'bhavad bharataśreṣṭha dakṣo nāma prajāpatiḥ ||
भीष्म ने कहा: भरतश्रेष्ठ! ब्रह्माजी ने अपने अँगूठे से दक्ष को उत्पन्न किया, जो मरीचि से भी पूर्वज थे; इसी कारण दक्ष ‘प्रजापति’ पद पर प्रतिष्ठित हुए।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Cosmic and social offices (like Prajāpati) are portrayed as grounded in ordained origin and seniority; legitimacy arises from one’s place in the created order and the responsibility suited to that station.
Bhīṣma explains a genealogical-cosmic detail: Brahmā created Dakṣa from his thumb; Dakṣa is described as senior even to Marīci, and thus he is established as a Prajāpati (progenitor).