Shloka 12
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 178 — Royal Contestants Assemble; Cosmic Witnesses; The Bow Remains Unstrung
याज्यो वेदविदां लोके भृगूणां पार्थिवर्षभ: । स तानग्रभुजस्तात धान्येन च धनेन च,वसिष्ठजीने (पराशरसे) कहा--वत्स! इस पृथ्वीपर कृतवीर्य नामसे प्रसिद्ध एक राजा थे। वे नृपश्रेष्ठ वेदज्ञ भृगुवंशी ब्राह्मणोंक यजमान थे। तात! उन महाराजने सोमयज्ञ करके उसके अन्तमें उन अग्रभोजी भार्गवोंको विपुल धन और धान्य देकर उसके द्वारा पूर्ण संतुष्ट किया। राजाओंमें श्रेष्ठ कृतवीर्यके स्वर्गवासी हो जानेपर उनके वंशजोंको किसी तरह द्रव्यकी आवश्यकता आ पड़ी। भृगुवंशी ब्राह्मणोंके यहाँ धन है, यह जानकर वे सभी राजपुत्र उन श्रेष्ठ भार्गवोंके पास याचक बनकर गये। उस समय कुछ भार्गवोंने अपनी अक्षय धनराशिको धरतीमें गाड़ दिया
yājyo vedavidāṁ loke bhṛgūṇāṁ pārthivarṣabhaḥ | sa tān agrabhujas tāta dhānyena ca dhanena ca ||
Vasiṣṭha said: “O dear child, in the world of Veda-knowers there was a bull among kings, a ruler fit to be the sacrificer for the Bhṛgu lineage. He gratified those foremost recipients (the Bhārgava Brahmins) by giving them abundant grain and wealth.” The passage frames an ethical ideal of kingship: a ruler sustains dharma by honoring learned Brahmins through properly conducted sacrifice and generous, respectful giving, thereby maintaining social and ritual order.
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic kingship: a worthy ruler supports Vedic order through proper sacrifice and generous gifts to learned Brahmins, honoring those entitled to the first share and sustaining reciprocal social responsibility.
Vasiṣṭha describes a preeminent king who served as patron to the Bhṛgu/Bhārgava Brahmins and satisfied them by giving plentiful grain and wealth at the conclusion of sacrifice, setting up the later narrative about wealth, need, and requests made to the Bhārgavas.