Shloka 35
अध्याय २८१ — दानधर्मः, न्यायागतधनम्, ऋणत्रय-परिशोधनं च
Dāna ethics, lawful wealth, and settling obligations
इत्युक्त: प्रतिजग्राह तद् वचो हव्यकव्यभुक् । पितामहस्य भगवांस्तथा च तदभूत् प्रभो,प्रभो! ब्रह्माजीके ऐसा कहनेपर हव्य और कव्यके भोक्ता भगवान् अग्निदेवने उन पितामहकी वह आज्ञा स्वीकार कर ली। इस प्रकार ब्रह्महत्याका एक चौथाई भाग अम्निमें चला गया
ity uktaḥ pratijagrāha tad vaco havyakavyabhuk | pitāmahasya bhagavāṁs tathā ca tad abhūt prabho prabho ||
Bhishma berkata: Setelah demikian dititahkan, Agni yang diberkati—pemakan persembahan untuk para dewa (havis) dan untuk para leluhur (kavya)—menerima perintah Sang Datuk (Brahmā). Maka terjadilah demikian, wahai tuan: seperempat beban brahmahatyā (dosa membunuh seorang brāhmaṇa) berpindah ke dalam Api.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic model where even severe wrongdoing is not treated as random chaos but is apportioned within a regulated cosmic-ritual framework. Agni’s acceptance signifies that purification and the handling of moral pollution occur through sanctioned channels (sacrifice, fire), under higher ordinance (Brahmā), stressing accountability and ordered expiation.
After Brahmā issues an instruction, Agni—described as the receiver of offerings for gods and ancestors—accepts it. As a result, one quarter of the burden of brahma-hatyā is assigned to Fire, indicating a division of the sin’s share among different bearers as part of a broader resolution.