Shloka 22
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
नष्टमात्मनि संलीनं नाधिजम्मुर्ठुताशनम् । ततः संजातसंत्रासानग्निदर्शनलालसान्
naṣṭam ātmani saṁlīnaṁ nādhijagmur hutaśanam | tataḥ saṁjāta-saṁtrāsā agni-darśana-lālasān devatān ekaḥ jalacaro meḍhako ’gni-tejasā dagdhaḥ klānta-citto rasātalād ūrdhvam āgataḥ provāca ||
毗湿摩说道：“火神已然隐没，藏于自身之内，因此诸天无法抵达。于是，诸神虽惊惶，却又渴望得见阿耆尼，便被一只水栖之蛙所告。那蛙为火焰之威光所灼，心神困惫，自罗娑多罗（下界）深处上升而来，对诸神开口。由此，叙事转向卑微生灵的证言，显明当强者困惑之时，弱小者亦能成为道义的见证。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and divinity may withdraw beyond ordinary reach; when the great are perplexed, insight can arise from unexpected, humble sources. The episode also highlights the ethical value of truthful witness—one who has directly suffered the consequences (burnt by Agni) can speak with authority.
Agni has disappeared by merging into itself, so the gods cannot find or approach it. The gods become fearful yet eager to see Agni, and a water-dwelling frog—scorched by Agni’s heat and having come up from Rasātala—begins to speak to them, advancing the story.