Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 57
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
तेजसा तस्य देवस्य गंगा विह्ललचेतना । संतापमगमत् तीव्रं सोढुं सा न शशाक ह,अग्निदेवके दिये हुए उस तेजसे गंगाजीका चित्त व्याकुल हो गया। वे अत्यन्त संतप्त हो उठीं और उसे सहन करनेमें असमर्थ हो गयीं
tejasā tasya devasya gaṅgā vihvalacetanā | santāpam agamat tīvraṃ soḍhuṃ sā na śaśāka ha ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Dahil sa naglalagablab na lakas na ipinagkaloob ng diyos na iyon (Agni), nabalisa ang diwa ng diyosang-ilog na si Ganga. Sinakmal siya ng matinding pagkapaso at hindi niya ito nakayanan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power (tejas) must be borne according to capacity; even sacred or divinely granted energy can cause harm if received or applied without fitness and moderation. Dharma includes knowing limits and ensuring that potency is transmitted and sustained responsibly.
Bhīṣma narrates that Gaṅgā, affected by the intense tejas associated with a god (contextually Agni), becomes mentally overwhelmed and suffers severe burning distress, finding herself unable to endure that force.