Shloka 3
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 178 — Royal Contestants Assemble; Cosmic Witnesses; The Bow Remains Unstrung
परासु: स यतस्तेन वसिष्ठ: स्थापितो मुनि: । गर्भस्थेन ततो लोके पराशर इति स्मृतः,उस बालकने गर्भमें आकर परासु (मरनेकी इच्छावाले) वसिष्ठ मुनिको पुनः जीवित रहनेके लिये उत्साहित किया था; इसलिये वह लोकमें “पराशर” के नामसे विख्यात हुआ
parāsuḥ sa yatastena vasiṣṭhaḥ sthāpito muniḥ | garbhasthena tato loke parāśara iti smṛtaḥ ||
Si Vasiṣṭha na rishi, na nagnais nang mamatay, ay napigilan at napanatiling buhay dahil sa batang iyon habang nasa sinapupunan pa. Kaya sa daigdig siya’y naalaala sa pangalang “Parāśara,” sapagkat inilihis niya si Vasiṣṭha mula sa pasyang magpakamatay.
गन्धर्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharmic value of preserving life—especially the life of a righteous sage whose presence benefits the world—and portrays turning someone away from self-destruction as a meritorious act.
A Gandharva explains the origin of the name “Parāśara”: while still in the womb, the child influenced Vasiṣṭha—who had become resolved to die—to remain alive; hence the child became known as Parāśara in the world.