Shloka 22
स्कन्दोपाख्यानम् — उत्पातशान्तिः, स्वाहारूपविचारः, कौमारमङ्गलक्रियाः
एतावेवाग्नयो महां यान् वदन्ति मनीषिण: । यज्ञा वेदाश्न॒ चत्वार: सर्वमेतो मम द्विज,विप्रवर! जिन्हें विद्वान लोग “अग्नि” कहते हैं, वे मेरे लिये ये ही हैं। चारों वेद और यज्ञ सब कुछ मेरे लिये ये माता-पिता ही हैं
etāvevāgnayo mahān yān vadanti manīṣiṇaḥ | yajñā vedāś ca catvāraḥ sarvam etan mama dvija vipravara ||
Sang pemburu berkata: “Wahai brahmana utama, ‘api-api agung’ yang disebut para bijak—bagiku itulah kedua orang tua ini. Keempat Weda dan segala yajña: semuanya, wahai yang dua kali lahir, bagiku terwujud dalam ibu dan ayahku.”
व्याध उवाच
Educational Q&A
True dharma is not limited to ritual performance; reverent service to one’s parents can itself be the highest ‘sacred fire’ and the living equivalent of Vedic study and sacrifice.
The hunter (vyādha), instructing a Brahmin seeker, redefines religious merit: instead of external ritual fires and formal sacrifices, he points to his mother and father as his primary objects of worship and duty.