Shloka 25

Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa

Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results

Devanagari script

“'देवताओ! अग्नि रसातलमें निवास करते हैं। प्रभो! मैं अग्निजनित संतापसे ही घबराकर यहाँ आया हूँ ।।

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | sa saṁsupto jale devā bhagavān havyavāhanaḥ | apaḥ saṁsṛjya tejobhis tena santāpitā vayam ||

Translation

దేవగణమా! అగ్ని రసాతలంలో నివసిస్తున్నాడు. ఓ దేవతలారా! భగవాన్ హవ్యవాహనుడు తన తేజస్సుతో జలాన్ని కలిపి జలములోనే నిద్రించుచున్నాడు; ఆ తేజస్సువల్లనే మేము దగ్ధమై సంతాపపడుతున్నాము.

Word by Word

• सः: he (that one)
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• संसुप्तः: asleep, having slept
• संसुप्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संसुप्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जले: in water
• जले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भगवान्: the blessed/lordly one
• भगवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हव्यवाहनः: Agni, the carrier of oblations
• हव्यवाहनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हव्यवाहन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अपः: waters
• अपः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• संसृज्य: having joined/combined
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-सृज्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund)

• तेजोभिः: with (his) energies/splendors
• तेजोभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• तेन: by that (by him/that)
• तेन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• संतापिताः: tormented, heated
• संतापिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संतापित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma (Bhīṣma)
• Agni (Havyavāhana)
• Devas (Devāḥ)
• Waters (Āpaḥ/Jala)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the overwhelming power of divine tejas (radiant energy): even when Agni is ‘asleep’ within the waters, his inherent potency can still cause suffering. It implies that cosmic forces must remain in proper balance, and that beings should seek rightful divine or dharmic means to restore equilibrium when afflicted.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma reports a situation to the gods: Agni (Havyavāhana) has merged his fiery energy with the waters and lies dormant there, yet that combined radiance is scorching ‘us’ (the speakers’ group). The statement functions as a plea/complaint describing the cause of their distress.