Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 138
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
ब्रह्मा पितामह: पूर्व देवताभि: प्रसादित: । इमे नः संतरिष्यन्ति प्रजाभिर्जगती श्वरा:
brahmā pitāmahaḥ pūrvaṁ devatābhiḥ prasāditaḥ | ime naḥ santariṣyanti prajābhir jagatīśvarāḥ ||
Wika ni Vasiṣṭha: “Noong unang panahon, pinalugod ng mga diyos ang Matandang Ama na si Brahmā at nanalangin: ‘Panginoon, maawa Ka upang ang mga inapo ni Bhṛgu at ng mga tulad niya, habang pinangangalagaan ang daigdig, ay sa pamamagitan ng kanilang mga supling ay mailigtas kami sa aming kapighatian. Nawa’y maging mga Prajāpati silang lahat at mga dakilang mapagpakasakit. Sa biyaya ng Iyong habag, sa panahong ito’y ililigtas nila ang buong sanlibutan mula sa panganib.’”
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic model of world-sustaining leadership: through divine grace, righteous lineages arise whose rulers and ascetics protect the earth and, by their progeny and disciplined conduct, help avert collective संकट (crisis). It links cosmic stability to tapas, responsible governance, and continuity of virtuous descendants.
Vasiṣṭha recounts an ancient episode: the gods approach Brahmā and propitiate him, requesting that certain great lineages (described in the gloss as descendants of Bhṛgu and others) be empowered to rule as world-protectors and to generate progeny who will help deliver the gods and the world from a looming danger.