Shloka 43
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
इत्युक्त्वा तं शमीगर्भे वह्लिमालक्ष्य देवता:
ity uktvā taṃ śamīgarbhe vahnīm ālakṣya devatāḥ | sarvakarmabhyaḥ śamīm eva agneḥ pavitra-sthānaṃ niyatya | tataḥ prabhṛti agnidevaḥ śamyāḥ antar dṛśyate sma ||
Bhishma berkata: “Setelah berkata demikian, para dewa melihat Agni di dalam rahim (inti) pohon śamī. Maka mereka menetapkan śamī itulah sebagai kediaman Agni yang suci dan disahkan bagi segala upacara. Sejak saat itu Agni tampak bersemayam di dalam śamī.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sacred practice is grounded in recognized purity and proper locus: the gods establish the śamī as Agni’s sanctioned abode, implying that ritual efficacy depends on dharmic authorization, purity, and correct tradition rather than mere convenience.
After a prior statement, the gods perceive Agni present within the śamī tree and formally designate the śamī as the pure seat of Agni for all rites; consequently Agni is said to be visibly present within the śamī thereafter.