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 disse: “As mães Kṛttikā viram aquela criança, radiante como o sol. Ao nascer-lhes afeição no coração e por terna benevolência, nutriram-no deixando correr jorros de leite de seus seios.”
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.