Shloka 14
यज्जैरवाप्यते सोम: स च गोषु प्रतिष्ठित: । ततो देवा: प्रमोदन्ते पूर्व वृत्तिस्तत: प्रजा:,यज्ञसे सोमकी प्राप्ति होती है और वह यज्ञ गौओंमें प्रतिष्ठित है, जिससे देवता आनन्दित होते हैं; अत: पहले आजीविका है फिर प्रजा
yajñair avāpyate somaḥ sa ca goṣu pratiṣṭhitaḥ | tato devāḥ pramodante pūrva-vṛttis tataḥ prajāḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Soma diperoleh melalui korban suci, dan korban suci itu sendiri berasaskan lembu. Dari situlah para dewa bersukacita. Maka, nafkah dan bekalan hidup harus didahulukan; barulah kemudian rakyat—keturunan dan masyarakat—berkembang.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sustenance (vṛtti)—the material basis of life and ritual—must be secured first; only then can society and progeny (prajā) thrive. The verse links cosmic welfare (devas rejoicing through Soma-sacrifice) to practical support systems, especially cattle, which underpin yajña and livelihood.
Bhishma is instructing Yudhishthira in the Anushasana Parva on dharma and social foundations. Here he explains the chain: Soma is gained through yajña; yajña depends on cattle; this pleases the gods; hence, ensuring livelihood and the supporting economy precedes and enables the well-being and growth of the populace.