Shloka 1
Puṣkara Sacrifice: Gāyatrī’s Marriage, Sāvitrī’s Wrath, Rudra’s Test, and the Tīrtha-Māhātmya
भीष्म उवाच । तस्मिन्यज्ञे किमाश्चर्यं तदासीद्द्विजसत्तम । कथं रुद्रः स्थितस्तत्र विष्णुश्चापि सुरोत्तमः
bhīṣma uvāca | tasminyajñe kimāścaryaṃ tadāsīddvijasattama | kathaṃ rudraḥ sthitastatra viṣṇuścāpi surottamaḥ
Bhīṣma thưa: Bạch bậc tối thượng trong hàng lưỡng sinh, trong tế lễ ấy đã xảy ra điều kỳ diệu gì? Và Rudra đã an trụ nơi đó ra sao, còn Viṣṇu—đấng tối thượng giữa chư thiên—cũng hiện diện thế nào?
Bhīṣma
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: tirtha
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तस्मिन्यज्ञे = तस्मिन् + यज्ञे. तदासीद् = तत् + आसीत्. किमाश्चर्यं = किम् + आश्चर्यम्. विष्णुश्चापि = विष्णुः + च + अपि.
FAQs
This verse does not mention any tīrtha or location; it focuses on a yajña (sacrifice) and the remarkable presence/positioning of Rudra and Viṣṇu within that ritual context.
Indirectly, it supports bhakti by highlighting reverent inquiry into the manifestations and roles of major deities (Rudra and Viṣṇu). The devotion here is expressed as attentive questioning about divine activity in sacred rites.
The ethical lesson is the value of respectful inquiry (praśna) toward elders/teachers: Bhīṣma seeks clarity about sacred events rather than assuming—modeling humility and a truth-seeking attitude.