Shloka 19
Brahmacarya-Upāya: Jñāna, Śauca, and the Mind’s Role in Desire (शान्ति पर्व, अध्याय २०७)
अज्जुष्ठात् ससूजे ब्रह्मा मरीचेरपि पूर्वजम् । सो5भवद् भरतश्रेष्ठ दक्षो नाम प्रजापति:
aṅguṣṭhāt sasṛje brahmā marīcer api pūrvajam | so 'bhavad bharataśreṣṭha dakṣo nāma prajāpatiḥ ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ: ହେ ଭରତଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ! ବ୍ରହ୍ମା ନିଜ ଅଙ୍ଗୁଠାରୁ ଦକ୍ଷଙ୍କୁ ସୃଷ୍ଟି କଲେ; ସେ ମରୀଚିଠାରୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ପୂର୍ବଜ ଥିଲେ। ଏହି କାରଣରୁ ଦକ୍ଷ ‘ପ୍ରଜାପତି’ ପଦରେ ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠିତ ହେଲେ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Cosmic and social offices (like Prajāpati) are portrayed as grounded in ordained origin and seniority; legitimacy arises from one’s place in the created order and the responsibility suited to that station.
Bhīṣma explains a genealogical-cosmic detail: Brahmā created Dakṣa from his thumb; Dakṣa is described as senior even to Marīci, and thus he is established as a Prajāpati (progenitor).