Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 139
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
सर्वे प्रजानां पतय: सर्वे चातितपस्विन: । त्वत्प्रसादादिमं लोक॑ तारयिष्यन्ति साम्प्रतम्
sarve prajānāṁ patayaḥ sarve cātitapāsvinaḥ | tvatprasādād imaṁ lokaṁ tārayiṣyanti sāmpratam ||
Wika ni Vasiṣṭha: “Silang lahat ay magiging mga panginoon at tagapangalaga ng mga nilalang, at silang lahat ay magiging lubhang mahigpit sa pag-aayuno at pagpapakasakit. Sa Iyong mapagpalang biyaya, sa panahong ito rin ay ililigtas nila ang daigdig na ito mula sa panganib.”
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate authority is framed as protective stewardship: true leaders are those who combine governance (being ‘patayaḥ’ of the people) with inner discipline (intense tapas), and their capacity to ‘save the world’ is ultimately grounded in divine grace (tvatprasāda).
Vasiṣṭha describes a group destined to become rulers/progenitors and powerful ascetics; through the favor of a higher power, they will act as deliverers of the world in a time of danger, restoring stability and safeguarding beings.