Shloka 78
Śrāddha-Kalpa: Pitṛ-Pūjā and Tithi-Phala (श्राद्धकल्पः पितृपूजा च तिथिफलम्)
उत्पपात तदा वह्नौ ववृधे चादूभुतोपमम् । तेजस्तेजसि संयुक्तमात्मयोनित्वमागतम्,वह अद्भुत तेज अग्निमें पड़कर बढ़ने और ऊपरको उठने लगा। तेजसे संयुक्त हुआ वह तेज एक स्वयम्भू पुरुषके रूपमें अभिव्यक्त होने लगा
utpapāta tadā vahnau vavṛdhe cādūbhutopamam | tejas tejasi saṃyuktam ātmayonitvam āgatam ||
بھیشم نے کہا— پھر وہ تیز آگ میں پڑ کر بھڑک اٹھا اور عجیب و غریب طور پر بڑھنے لگا۔ آگ کے اپنے نور سے مل کر وہ تیز خودبخود (سویَمبھو) ایک پُرش کی صورت میں ظاہر ہونے لگا۔
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the Mahābhārata’s ethic that sacred action (especially yajña and disciplined practice) can become a vehicle for higher manifestation: when tejas is rightly kindled and united with its proper source, it rises beyond the ordinary and reveals a self-sustaining, self-born power—symbolizing dharma-supported spiritual potency rather than mere spectacle.
Bhīṣma describes a miraculous event: a radiant energy leaps up in the sacrificial fire, grows extraordinarily, and—merging with the fire’s brilliance—takes on an ātmayoni (self-born) mode of existence, appearing as a self-existent Person (puruṣa) emerging from the flame.