Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 118
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
अग्निरुवाच मदड्गलेभ्य: प्रसूतानि मदाश्रयकृतानि च । ममैव तान्यपत्यानि वरुणो हवशात्मक:
agnir uvāca mad-aṅgebhyaḥ prasūtāni mad-āśraya-kṛtāni ca | mamaiva tāny apatyāni varuṇo havśātmakaḥ ||
Wika ni Agni: “Ang tatlong supling na ito’y isinilang mula sa aking sariling mga sangkap, at iniluwal sila ng Maylikha habang sila’y nakasalalay sa aking pag-alalay. Kaya sila’y tunay na aking mga anak. Si Varuṇa—kahit magpakita man bilang havis, ang handog sa apoy—ay walang karapatang umangkin sa kanila.”
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts that rightful parentage and authority are grounded in true origin and sustaining support, not merely in assumed forms or external claims—an ethical reminder to base claims on dharmic legitimacy.
Agni speaks in a dispute about who has rightful claim over three children, arguing they were produced from his own body and under his support; therefore Varuṇa, even if identified with the sacrificial oblation, has no claim over them.