Shloka 29
त्रिवर्गमूलनिश्चयः — Determining the Roots of Dharma, Artha, and Kāma
Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 123
अपां राज्येडसुराणां च विदधे वरुणं प्रभुम् मृत्युं प्राणेश्वरमथो तेजसां च हुताशनम्
apāṃ rājyed asurāṇāṃ ca vidadhe varuṇaṃ prabhum | mṛtyuṃ prāṇeśvaram atho tejasāṃ ca hutāśanam ||
ヴァスハローマは言った。「彼はヴァルナを水界の主、またアスラの領域の主として定め、死を生きとし生けるものの息の主とし、火神（フターシャナ）を光輝と力の支配者とした。」この段は、宇宙の秩序が恣意ではなく職分として配され、正しい統治と抑制によって世界が働くことを示している。
वसुहरोम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the universe is sustained by an ordered distribution of authority: each cosmic force has a defined jurisdiction (waters, life-breath, radiance). This models dharma as rightful placement of power and responsibility rather than arbitrary dominance.
Vasuharoma describes how a supreme ordainer assigns rulership: Varuṇa is set over waters (and the Asuras’ realm), Death over the life-breaths of beings, and Agni over tejas. It is a catalog of cosmic appointments illustrating structured governance of the world.