Shloka 78
Yoga-Sleep, Cosmic Dissolution, and the Lotus of Creation
with Mārkaṇḍeya’s Vision
ये च यज्ञकरा विप्रा ये ॠत्विज इति स्मृताः । अस्मादेव पुरा भूता वक्त्रेभ्यः श्रूयते तथा
ye ca yajñakarā viprā ye ṝtvija iti smṛtāḥ | asmādeva purā bhūtā vaktrebhyaḥ śrūyate tathā
യജ്ഞം ചെയ്യുന്ന വിപ്രന്മാർ, ‘ഋത്വിജ്’ പുരോഹിതന്മാർ എന്നു സ്മരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നവർ—അവർ പണ്ടുകാലത്ത് എനിക്കെവിടെ നിന്നുമാത്രം ജനിച്ചു; മുതിർന്നവരുടെ വായ്മൊഴിയായി അങ്ങനെ കേൾക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.
Brahmā (implied, speaking in first person: 'asmāt')
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: celestial_realm
Sandhi Resolution Notes: asmādeva = asmāt + eva.
FAQs
It states that the sacrificial priests (ṛtvij), identified as Brahmins who conduct yajñas, are said to have originated from Brahmā himself in ancient times.
It appeals to received tradition—what is transmitted orally by authoritative speakers/elders—presenting the claim as established śruti-smṛti style testimony rather than a new assertion.
By grounding priestly identity in a sacred origin, the verse underscores responsibility: ritual specialists should embody purity, truthfulness, and correct conduct consistent with their role in sustaining dharma through yajña.