Shloka 18
Nṛga-upākhyāna: Brāhmaṇa-sva and the Consequence of Misappropriated Gift-Cattle (कृकलास-रूपे नृगोपाख्यानम्)
महाराज! इसके बाद यज्ञकी इच्छावाले देवताओं और स्वयम्भू ब्रह्माजीका समागम होनेपर उनमें परस्पर जो बातचीत हुई थी, उसे बता रहा हूँ, इसपर ध्यान दो ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | mahārāja! tataḥ paraṁ yajñecchavo devāḥ svayambhūṁ brahmāṇam sametya parasparaṁ yāṁ kathām akurvan, tāṁ te kathayiṣyāmi—tatra te manasā nidhatsva || devāḥ sametya brahmāṇaṁ bhūmibhāge yiyakṣavaḥ | śubhaṁ deśam ayācanta yajāma iti pārthiva ||
ビーシュマは言った。「大王よ、この後、祭祀を望む神々が自生の梵天と会合したとき、そこで交わされた言葉を語ろう。心して聞け。供犠を行わんとする神々は梵天のもとへ赴き、地上の吉祥なる地を求めてこう願った。『地の主よ、我らが祭祀（ヤジュニャ）を執り行えるよう、世にめでたき場所をお授けください。』」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights that sacred action (yajña) requires proper conditions—especially an auspicious place—and that even divine beings seek orderly sanction and right setting, reflecting dharma as alignment of intention, authority, and circumstance.
Bhīṣma tells the king he will recount a prior dialogue: the gods, wishing to perform a sacrifice, approach Self-born Brahmā and ask for an auspicious tract of land on earth where they can conduct the yajña.