Shloka 29
प्रतिग्रहभेदः — The Distinction between Giving and Accepting
Vṛṣādarbhī–Saptarṣi Dialogue
विश्वे चाग्निमुखा देवा: संख्याता: पूर्वमेव ते । तेषां नामानि वक्ष्यामि भागाहाणां महात्मनाम्
viśve cāgnimukhā devāḥ saṅkhyātāḥ pūrvam eva te | teṣāṃ nāmāni vakṣyāmi bhāgahāṇāṃ mahātmanām ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Naipahayag ko na sa iyo ang mga Viśvedevas—yaong mga diyos na ang ‘bibig’ ay si Agni, sapagkat sa pamamagitan ng apoy nila tinatanggap ang mga handog. Ngayon ay ipahahayag ko ang mga pangalan ng mga dakilang-loob na may karapatang tumanggap ng kanilang itinakdang bahagi sa paghahandog.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ritual order and dharma are upheld by recognizing the proper recipients of sacrificial offerings: the gods receive their portions through Agni, the consecrated medium of yajña. The verse emphasizes correct knowledge and proper allocation as part of righteous practice.
Bhishma continues his instruction by transitioning from a prior enumeration of the Viśvedevas to a forthcoming list of their individual names, explaining that these deities—whose offerings are conveyed via Agni—are entitled to shares in the sacrifice.