Shloka 51
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
देवा ऊचु असुरस्तारको नाम ब्रह्मणो वरदर्पित: । अस्मान् प्रबाधते वीर्याद् वधस्तस्य विधीयताम्
bhīṣma uvāca | devā ūcuḥ: asuras tārako nāma brahmaṇo varadarpitaḥ | asmān prabādhate vīryād vadhastasya vidhīyatām ||
Bhishma berkata: Para dewa bersabda, “Wahai Agni! Ada seorang asura bernama Tāraka yang, mabuk oleh keangkuhan hasil anugerah Brahmā, menindas kami semua dengan kekuatan kepahlawanannya. Maka, hendaklah diatur suatu jalan untuk memusnahkannya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power secured through a boon can still become a cause of adharma when joined with arrogance (darpa). The verse highlights the ethical need to restrain oppressive force and to restore cosmic order through rightful means.
The devas report to Agni that the asura Tāraka, emboldened by Brahmā’s boon, is tormenting them. They request that a plan or method be arranged for his destruction.