Shloka 27
प्रतिग्रहभेदः — The Distinction between Giving and Accepting
Vṛṣādarbhī–Saptarṣi Dialogue
देवास्तु पितरो नाम निर्मिता ये स्वयम्भुवा । उष्णपा ये महाभागास्तेषां भाग: प्रकल्पित:
devāstu pitaro nāma nirmitā ye svayambhuvā | uṣṇapā ye mahābhāgāsteṣāṃ bhāgaḥ prakalpitaḥ ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “May ilang banal na nilalang na nilikha ni Svayambhu (ang Sariling-Isinilang na Lumikha) at nakikilala sa pangalang ‘Pitri’ (mga Ninuno). Ang mararangal na Pitri na iyon ay tinatawag ding Uṣṇapā. Para sa kanila, itinakda ni Svayambhu ang isang tiyak na bahagi sa mga handog ng śrāddha—pinatutunayan na ang paggalang sa mga ninuno ay tungkuling pinahihintulutan at iniuutos ng dharma.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That honoring the Pitṛs through śrāddha is not optional sentiment but a dharmically authorized obligation: the Creator himself has assigned the Pitṛs their rightful share in offerings.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma, he identifies a class of beings called the Pitṛs—also termed Uṣṇapā—and explains their divine origin and their formally prescribed portion in śrāddha rites.