Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 107
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
मरीचिभ्यो मरीचिस्तु मारीच: कश्यपो हाभूत् | अंगारेभ्यो5ज़ितिस्तात वालखिल्या: कुशोच्चयात्
marīcibhyo marīcis tu mārīcaḥ kaśyapo hābhūt | aṅgārebhyo 'ṅgirās tāta vālakhilyāḥ kuśoccayāt ||
婆悉吒说道：“由光芒（marīci）生出圣者摩利支（Marīci）；其子以‘迦叶波（Kaśyapa）’之名闻名，乃摩利支之后裔。亲爱的啊，由炽热余烬生出安祇罗（Aṅgirā）；又由一堆库沙草（kuśa）显现出被称为婆罗契利耶（Vālakhilyas）的诸仙。”
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that the lineage of sages is rooted in sacred, subtle elements (rays, embers, kuśa), suggesting that spiritual greatness arises through tapas and cosmic order rather than ordinary material causation—reinforcing reverence for ṛṣis and the dharmic tradition they embody.
Vasiṣṭha continues a genealogical/cosmogonic account: Marīci arises from marīcis (rays), Kaśyapa is identified as Marīci’s descendant, Aṅgirā is said to arise from embers, and the Vālakhilya sages from a heap of kuśa grass.