Shloka 423
बक-गौतमाख्यानम् / The Baka–Gautama Account
On Gratitude and Friendship Ethics
महर्षिसुरगन्धर्वानुवाचेदं पितामह: । सभी प्राणी भयके मारे बारंबार व्यथित हो उठते थे। उस भयानक भूतको उपस्थित हुआ देख पितामह ब्रह्माने महर्षियों, देवताओं तथा गन्धर्वोंसे कहा--
maharsisuragandharvān uvācedaṃ pitāmahaḥ | sabhī prāṇī bhayake māre bārambār vyathita ho uṭhate the | us bhayānaka bhūtako upasthita huā dekh pitāmaha brahmāne maharsiyoṃ, devatāoṃ tathā gandharvoṃse kahā—
Bhīṣma disse: O Avô (Brahmā) dirigiu-se aos grandes rishis, aos deuses e aos Gandharvas. Todos os seres, tomados pelo medo, eram repetidamente sacudidos e aflitos. Vendo aquele ser terrível surgir diante deles, o Avô Brahmā falou aos sábios, às divindades e aos músicos celestes—preparando um conselho destinado a restaurar a ordem e a firmeza em face do terror.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When fear overwhelms the world, restoration begins with wise counsel and re-centering on dharma: the highest authority (here Brahmā) addresses the community of the wise and the divine to re-establish steadiness, right understanding, and order.
A terrifying entity appears, causing repeated distress among living beings. In response, Brahmā—the Grandsire—addresses the assembled sages, gods, and Gandharvas, indicating an impending instruction or decision meant to deal with the threat.