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Shloka 29

प्रतिग्रहभेदः — The Distinction between Giving and Accepting

Vṛṣādarbhī–Saptarṣi Dialogue

विश्वे चाग्निमुखा देवा: संख्याता: पूर्वमेव ते । तेषां नामानि वक्ष्यामि भागाहाणां महात्मनाम्‌

viśve cāgnimukhā devāḥ saṅkhyātāḥ pūrvam eva te | teṣāṃ nāmāni vakṣyāmi bhāgahāṇāṃ mahātmanām ||

ビーシュマは言った。「ヴィシュヴェーデーヴァ(Viśvedevas)についてはすでに汝に数え挙げた。彼らの『口』はアグニ(火)であり、供物は火を通じて受け取られるからである。いまより、祭祀において定められた分け前を受ける資格をもつ大いなる魂たちの名を告げよう。」

विश्वेthe Viśvedevas (All-gods)
विश्वे:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootविश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अग्निमुखाःhaving Agni as their mouth / with Agni as the mouth
अग्निमुखाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअग्निमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
देवाःgods
देवाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
संख्याताःenumerated / mentioned
संख्याताः:
TypeAdjective
Rootसम् + ख्या (धातु) → संख्यात (कृदन्त)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural, क्त (past passive participle)
पूर्वम्previously / earlier
पूर्वम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
एवindeed / just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
तेto you
ते:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootयुष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormSecond, Dative, Singular
तेषाम्of them
तेषाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
नामानिnames
नामानि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
वक्ष्यामिI will tell / I will declare
वक्ष्यामि:
TypeVerb
Rootवच् (धातु)
Formलृट् (simple future), परस्मैपद, First, Singular
भागाहाणाम्of the share-receivers (those entitled to a portion in sacrifice)
भागाहाणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootभागाह (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
महात्मनाम्of the great-souled ones
महात्मनाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootमहात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
V
Viśvedevas
A
Agni
Y
Yajña (sacrifice)

Educational Q&A

Ritual order and dharma are upheld by recognizing the proper recipients of sacrificial offerings: the gods receive their portions through Agni, the consecrated medium of yajña. The verse emphasizes correct knowledge and proper allocation as part of righteous practice.

Bhishma continues his instruction by transitioning from a prior enumeration of the Viśvedevas to a forthcoming list of their individual names, explaining that these deities—whose offerings are conveyed via Agni—are entitled to shares in the sacrifice.