Shloka 29
त्रिवर्गमूलनिश्चयः — Determining the Roots of Dharma, Artha, and Kāma
Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 123
अपां राज्येडसुराणां च विदधे वरुणं प्रभुम् मृत्युं प्राणेश्वरमथो तेजसां च हुताशनम्,शक्तिशाली भगवान् वरुणको जल और असूुरोंके राज्यपर प्रतिष्ठित किया। मृत्युको प्राणोंका तथा अग्नि-देवको तेजका आधिपत्य प्रदान किया
apāṃ rājyed asurāṇāṃ ca vidadhe varuṇaṃ prabhum | mṛtyuṃ prāṇeśvaram atho tejasāṃ ca hutāśanam ||
Ia menegakkan Varuṇa sebagai penguasa atas perairan dan atas wilayah para Asura; Ia menetapkan Maut sebagai tuan atas napas-kehidupan, dan Hutāśana (Agni) sebagai penguasa atas cahaya dan daya.
वसुहरोम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the universe is sustained by an ordered distribution of authority: each cosmic force has a defined jurisdiction (waters, life-breath, radiance). This models dharma as rightful placement of power and responsibility rather than arbitrary dominance.
Vasuharoma describes how a supreme ordainer assigns rulership: Varuṇa is set over waters (and the Asuras’ realm), Death over the life-breaths of beings, and Agni over tejas. It is a catalog of cosmic appointments illustrating structured governance of the world.