Shloka 14
Puruṣaikatva-vyākhyāna: The One Virāṭ Puruṣa and the Many ‘Puruṣas’
Rudra–Brahmā Saṃvāda
छागेनाजेन यष्टव्यमेवमुक्तं वचस्तदा । भीष्मजी कहते हैं--राजन्! देवताओंका मत जानकर राजा वसुने उन्हींका पक्ष लेकर कह दिया कि अजका अर्थ है, छाग (बकरा); अतः उसीके द्वारा यज्ञ करना चाहिये ।।
chāgenājena yaṣṭavyam evam uktaṁ vacas tadā | kupitās te tataḥ sarve munayaḥ sūryavarcasaḥ ||
Bhīṣma nói: Khi ấy có lời rằng: “Phải cử hành tế lễ bằng chāga (dê), vì ‘aja’ có nghĩa là dê.” Vua Vasu, đứng về phía chư thiên và tuyên bố cách hiểu ấy, liền nói như vậy. Rồi tất cả các hiền triết, rực sáng như mặt trời, đều nổi giận.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how dharma in ritual practice can hinge on interpretation of authoritative words: a single term (“aja”) may be read differently, and choosing an interpretation—especially by aligning with one authority (the gods) against another (the sages)—can carry ethical and social consequences.
In Bhishma’s account, King Vasu, after learning the gods’ view, declares that “aja” should be understood as “chāga” (goat) and that the sacrifice should be performed accordingly. This pronouncement provokes the sun-bright sages, who become angry, setting up a conflict over ritual meaning and authority.