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 ||
ವರుణನನ್ನು ಜಲಗಳ ಮೇಲೂ ಅಸುರರ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಮೇಲೂ ಪ್ರಭುವಾಗಿ ಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸಿದನು; ಮೃತ್ಯುವನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾಣಗಳ ಅಧೀಶ್ವರನಾಗಿ, ಹುತಾಶನನಾದ ಅಗ್ನಿಯನ್ನು ತೇಜಸ್ಸಿನ ಅಧಿಪತಿಯಾಗಿ ನೇಮಿಸಿದನು.
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.