Shloka 256
नक्षत्रेषु श्राद्धफलविधानम् (Śrāddha Outcomes According to Nakṣatras)
शध्वापदांश्व बहून् घोरांश्छत्राणि विविधानि च | वरुणने वरुणलोकके अनेक सुन्दर एवं दिव्य हाथी दिये। देवराज इन्द्रने सिंह
śadhvāpādāṁś ca bahūn ghorāṁś chatrāṇi vividhāni ca | varuṇena varuṇaloke 'neka-sundarāṇi ca divyāni hastinaḥ dattāḥ | devarāja indreṇa siṁhā vyāghrā hastinaḥ anyāni ca pakṣiṇaḥ bahavaś ca bhayānakā hiṁsakā jīvāḥ tathā nānā-vidhāni chatrāṇi bhentāni ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Si Varuṇa, sa sarili niyang makalangit na daigdig, ay nagkaloob ng maraming magaganda at dibinong elepante, kasama ang sari-saring mababangis na nilalang at iba’t ibang uri ng maharlikang payong. Gayundin si Indra, hari ng mga diyos, ay naghandog ng mga leon, tigre, elepante, iba pang mga ibon, maraming nakapanghihilakbot na mandaragit, at mga payong na iba-iba ang anyo.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that sovereignty and honor (symbolized by parasols) come together with formidable power (wild and predatory creatures). Such power, even when divinely granted, must be held under dharma—governed with restraint, responsibility, and ethical order.
Bhishma is describing the offerings or gifts bestowed by deities: Varuna grants divine elephants and various royal parasols, while Indra presents powerful animals—lions, tigers, elephants—along with birds, other fearsome creatures, and many kinds of parasols.