Shloka 2
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
देवता बोले--प्रभो! आपने जिसे वर दे रखा है, वह तारक नामक असुर देवताओं और ऋषियोंको बड़ा कष्ट दे रहा है। अतः उसके वधका कोई उपाय कीजिये ।।
devatā ūcuḥ—prabho! āpne jise vara de rakhā hai, vah tāraka-nāmaka asura devatāoṃ aur ṛṣiyoṃ ko baṛā kaṣṭa de rahā hai; ataḥ uske vadha kā koī upāya kījiye. tasmād bhayaṃ samutpannam asmākaṃ vai pitāmaha; paritrāyasva no deva, nānyā gatir asti naḥ.
众天神说道：“主啊，那名叫塔罗迦（Tāraka）的阿修罗——曾蒙您赐福——正使诸天与诸仙圣遭受极大痛苦。故请您设法令其毁灭。由此我们生起了巨大的恐惧，噢祖父（Pitamaha）！请护佑我们，神圣者啊；因为我们别无归依。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power granted through boons must ultimately align with dharma; when a boon-holder becomes a source of adharma and suffering, the divine order seeks a lawful remedy. The verse also highlights śaraṇāgati—turning to a higher authority as the final refuge when all other options fail.
The gods, distressed by the asura Tāraka’s oppression of both devas and ṛṣis, approach the ‘Grandfather’ (Brahmā) and plead for protection and a means to bring about the demon’s death, stating they have no other refuge.