Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 118
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
अग्निरुवाच मदड्गलेभ्य: प्रसूतानि मदाश्रयकृतानि च । ममैव तान्यपत्यानि वरुणो हवशात्मक:
agnir uvāca mad-aṅgebhyaḥ prasūtāni mad-āśraya-kṛtāni ca | mamaiva tāny apatyāni varuṇo havśātmakaḥ ||
阿耆尼说道：“这三位子嗣由我自身肢体而生；造物主在他们依托我之支撑时使其出现。故此三者确为我子。伐楼那——纵现为祭献之供物（havis）——亦无权索取他们。”
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts that rightful parentage and authority are grounded in true origin and sustaining support, not merely in assumed forms or external claims—an ethical reminder to base claims on dharmic legitimacy.
Agni speaks in a dispute about who has rightful claim over three children, arguing they were produced from his own body and under his support; therefore Varuṇa, even if identified with the sacrificial oblation, has no claim over them.