Shloka 13
Vasiṣṭha on Saṃsāra, Guṇas, and Misattributed Agency
Mahābhārata 12.292
विश्वामित्रस्य पुत्रत्वमृचीकतनयो5गमत् | ऋग्भि: स्तुत्वा महाबाहो देवान् वै यज्ञभागिन:,महाबाहो! ऋचीकके पुत्र यज्ञमें भाग लेनेवाले देवताओंकी वेदमन्त्रोंद्वारा स्तुति करके विश्वामित्रके पुत्र हो गये
Viśvāmitrasya putratvam ṛcīkatanayo ’gamat | ṛgbhiḥ stutvā mahābāho devān vai yajñabhāginaḥ ||
Parāśara disse: «Ó de braços poderosos, o filho de Ṛcīka alcançou a condição de ser filho de Viśvāmitra. Tendo louvado, com hinos do Ṛgveda, os deuses que recebem suas porções no sacrifício, tornou-se (tido como) filho de Viśvāmitra.»
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical-religious idea that rightful ritual action—praising the gods with Vedic hymns and honoring sacrificial order—can confer recognized status and affiliation (here, ‘sonship’), showing how merit and dharmic conduct shape social and genealogical identity.
Parāśara states that Ṛcīka’s son attained the status of being Viśvāmitra’s son after praising the gods who receive sacrificial shares with Ṛgvedic hymns, indicating a transformation or recognition of lineage through ritual praise.