Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 178 — Royal Contestants Assemble; Cosmic Witnesses; The Bow Remains Unstrung
अमन्यत स धर्मात्मा वसिष्ठ पितरं मुनि: । जन्मप्रभृति तस्मिंस्तु पितरीवान्ववर्तत,धर्मात्मा पराशर मुनि वसिष्ठको ही अपना पिता मानते थे और जन्मसे ही उनके प्रति पितृभाव रखते थे
amanyata sa dharmātmā vasiṣṭha-pitaraṃ muniḥ | janma-prabhṛti tasmiṃs tu pitarīva anvavartata ||
Itinuring ng matuwid na rishi si Vasiṣṭha bilang kaniyang ama. Mula pa sa kapanganakan, kumilos siya sa harap niya gaya ng isang anak sa kaniyang ama.
गन्धर्व उवाच
Dharma is shown through sustained conduct: honoring a worthy elder as a father and living with consistent filial reverence from the very beginning of life.
The Gandharva describes Parāśara’s attitude toward Vasiṣṭha: Parāśara accepts Vasiṣṭha as his father and, from birth onward, behaves toward him with the devotion and obedience due to a parent.