Shloka 87
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
द्विजवरो! सुवर्ण सम्पूर्ण पवित्र वस्तुओंमें अतिशय पवित्र है; उसे अग्नि और सोमरूप बताया गया है ।।
Vasiṣṭha uvāca: Dvijavara! suvarṇa-sampūrṇaṃ pavitra-vastūnāṃ madhye ’tiśayaṃ pavitram; tad agni-soma-rūpaṃ proktaṃ. Api cedam purā Rāma śrutaṃ me brahma-darśanam—pitāmahasya yad vṛttaṃ Brahmaṇaḥ paramātmanaḥ; tat te ’haṃ kathayiṣyāmi, śṛṇu.
ବସିଷ୍ଠ କହିଲେ—ହେ ଦ୍ୱିଜବର! ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଶୁଦ୍ଧ ସୁବର୍ଣ୍ଣ ପବିତ୍ର ବସ୍ତୁମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଅତିଶୟ ପବିତ୍ର; ଏହାକୁ ଅଗ୍ନି-ସୋମସ୍ୱଭାବ ବୋଲି ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କରାଯାଏ। ଆଉ, ହେ ରାମ (ପରଶୁରାମ)! ‘ବ୍ରହ୍ମଦର୍ଶନ’ ନାମକ ଯେ ପୁରାତନ ବୃତ୍ତାନ୍ତ—ପରମାତ୍ମା ପିତାମହ ବ୍ରହ୍ମାଙ୍କ ବିଷୟରେ—ମୁଁ ପୂର୍ବେ ଶୁଣିଥିଲି, ସେହିଟି ତୁମକୁ କହୁଛି; ଶୁଣ।
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links material purity to ritual and metaphysical symbolism: pure gold is treated as supremely sacred and is said to embody Agni and Soma, indicating its suitability for sacrificial and dharmic use; it then pivots to a higher teaching—an account of ‘Brahma-darśana’—suggesting that external purity is ultimately oriented toward insight into the Supreme Self.
Vasiṣṭha addresses Rāma (Paraśurāma), first stating a traditional valuation of gold as a sacred substance with Agni–Soma character, and then introduces an ancient story he once heard about Pitāmaha Brahmā and the Supreme Self, announcing that he will now narrate it.