Shloka 23
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
जलेचर: क्लान्तमनास्तेजसाग्ने: प्रदीपित: । उवाच देवान् मण्डूको रसातलतलोत्थित:
jale-caraḥ klānta-manās tejasā agneḥ pradīpitaḥ | uvāca devān maṇḍūko rasātala-talotthitaḥ ||
Wika ni Bhishma: Isang palaka, nilalang na naninirahan sa tubig, na napaso sa naglalagablab na init ni Agni at pagod ang loob, ay umahon mula sa kailaliman ng Rasātala at nagsalita sa mga diyos. (Sa salaysay, ang mga diyos—sabik ngunit takot na masilayan si Agni—ay nilapitan ng nilalang na ito, na naging di-inaasahang tinig na kumausap sa kanila.)
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a lowly or suffering being can become the bearer of an important message; divine power (Agni’s tejas) inspires awe but also causes distress, and dharma requires that such power be approached with discernment and compassion for those affected.
A frog, burned and exhausted by Agni’s blazing energy, emerges from the netherworld Rasātala and speaks to the assembled gods, who are themselves eager yet afraid to behold Agni.