Shloka 22
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
नष्टमात्मनि संलीनं नाधिजम्मुर्ठुताशनम् । ततः संजातसंत्रासानग्निदर्शनलालसान्
naṣṭam ātmani saṁlīnaṁ nādhijagmur hutaśanam | tataḥ saṁjāta-saṁtrāsā agni-darśana-lālasān devatān ekaḥ jalacaro meḍhako ’gni-tejasā dagdhaḥ klānta-citto rasātalād ūrdhvam āgataḥ provāca ||
ビーシュマは言った。「火神は姿を失い、自らの内に隠れ沈んでいたため、神々はそこへ到ることができなかった。すると、アグニを拝見したいと願いながらも恐れにとらわれた神々に向かって、水に住む一匹の蛙が語りかけた。蛙は火の威光に灼かれ、心も疲れ果て、羅刹多羅（ラサータラ）の底から地上へと這い上がって来たのである。かくして物語は、卑しき生きものの証言へと転じ、強者が惑うとき、弱き者さえ道義の証人となり得ることを示す。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and divinity may withdraw beyond ordinary reach; when the great are perplexed, insight can arise from unexpected, humble sources. The episode also highlights the ethical value of truthful witness—one who has directly suffered the consequences (burnt by Agni) can speak with authority.
Agni has disappeared by merging into itself, so the gods cannot find or approach it. The gods become fearful yet eager to see Agni, and a water-dwelling frog—scorched by Agni’s heat and having come up from Rasātala—begins to speak to them, advancing the story.