Shloka 13
नक्षत्रेषु श्राद्धफलविधानम् (Śrāddha Outcomes According to Nakṣatras)
ददृशुः कृत्तिकास्तं तु बालमर्कसमद्युतिम् । जातस्नेहाच्च सौहार्दात् पुपुषु: स्तन्यविस्त्रवै:
dadṛśuḥ kṛttikās taṃ tu bālam arka-samad-yutim | jāta-snehāc ca sauhārdāt pupuṣuḥ stanya-vistravaiḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Para ibu Kṛttikā melihat anak itu bersinar seperti matahari. Kasih sayang pun meluap di hati mereka, dan kerana kelembutan persahabatan, mereka menyusukannya, membiarkan aliran susu mengalir dari payudara mereka untuk memeliharanya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharma as compassionate care: when innocence and need are encountered, affection and goodwill naturally translate into protection and nourishment, even without prior obligation.
The Kṛttikās see a sun-radiant infant and, moved by sudden affection and friendly tenderness, they feed him with their breast-milk, thereby sustaining and raising him.