Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 79
वृद्धैः काश्यपगौतमप्र भृतिभि र्भग्वड्धिरो5त्रयादिभि: शुक्रागस्त्यबृहस्पतिप्रभतिभिर्रह्यर्षिभि: सेवितम् । भारद्वाजमतमृचीकतनयै: प्राप्त वसिष्ठात् पुनः सावित्रीमधिगम्य शक्रवसुभि: कृत्स्ना जिता दानवा:
bhīṣma uvāca |
vṛddhaiḥ kāśyapa-gautama-bhṛgu-prabhṛtibhir bhagavadbhir atry-ādibhiḥ śukrāgastya-bṛhaspati-prabhṛtibhir brahmarṣibhiḥ sevitam | bhāradvāja-mataṁ ṛcīka-tanayaiḥ prāptaṁ vasiṣṭhāt punaḥ sāvitrīm adhigamya śakra-vasubhiḥ kṛtsnā jitā dānavāḥ ||
Sinabi ni Bhishma: Ang mantrang Savitri (Gayatri) ay palagiang isinagawa ng mga kagalang-galang na Brahmarishi—sina Kashyapa, Gautama, Bhrigu at iba pa, gayundin si Atri at ang mga kasamahan niya; at gayon din nina Shukra, Agastya, Brihaspati, at iba pang dakilang rishi. Malalim itong pinagbulayan ni Bharadvaja; at tinanggap ito mula sa kanya ng mga anak ni Richika. Muli, si Indra at ang mga Vasu, nang matamo ang Savitri mula kay Vashishtha, ay napagtagumpayan ang buong hukbo ng mga Danava sa bisa nito. Ipinakikita ng talatang ito na ang mantra ay hindi pribadong pag-aari kundi isang disiplinadong pamana: kapag nilapitan sa paggalang, pag-aaral, at wastong pagpapasa, nagiging lakas ito na nagtatanggol sa dharma at nagpapasuko sa adharma.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that spiritual power and moral protection arise from disciplined practice and legitimate transmission of sacred knowledge. The Savitri/Gayatri is portrayed as effective when approached through reverence, contemplation, and guru-to-disciple lineage, becoming a support for dharma and a means to subdue forces aligned with adharma.
Bhishma lists eminent ancient seers who constantly practiced the Savitri/Gayatri. He then traces a line of transmission and application: Bharadvaja contemplated it; the sons of Richika received it from him; and Indra with the Vasus, having obtained it from Vashishtha, used its potency to defeat the Danavas.