Shloka 27
Rājā–Rāja-Śabda-Prabhavaḥ — The Origin and Rationale of Kingship and Daṇḍanīti
“मनुष्य यज्ञ आदिमें घीकी आहुति देकर हमारे लिये ऊपरकी ओर वर्षा करते थे और हम उनके लिये नीचेकी ओर पानी बरसाते थे; परंतु अब उनके यज्ञकर्मका लोप हो जानेसे हमारा जीवन संशयमें पड़ गया है ।।
manuṣyā yajñādau ghṛtāhutiṃ dattvā asmākaṃ kṛte ūrdhvaṃ varṣaṃ kurvanti sma, vayaṃ ca teṣāṃ kṛte adho jalaṃ varṣayāma sma; kintu idānīṃ teṣāṃ yajñakarmalopena asmākaṃ jīvitaṃ saṃśaye patitam. atra niḥśreyasaṃ yan naḥ tad dhyāyasva pitāmaha. tvatprabhāvasamuttho 'sau svabhāvo no vinaśyati.
毗湿摩说道：“往昔之时，人们以献酥油（ghee）开祭，将供献为我等送上高天；而我等亦以降雨回报，使水自上而下润泽他们。如今祭祀之法衰微乃至断绝，我等自身的存续也陷入不安与疑惧。祖父啊，请思量何道能使我等得真实之福。由你威力所生的神性本分，如今正在消亡。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses reciprocity between human duty (yajña and offerings) and cosmic support (rain and sustenance). When dharmic practices that uphold this exchange decline, both human society and the divine order become unstable; therefore one should seek niḥśreyasa—measures that restore true welfare and right order.
Bhishma reports a breakdown of the traditional exchange: humans once offered ghee in sacrifice, and the divine side responded with rain. With sacrifices neglected, the speakers’ continued existence is threatened, so they appeal to the ‘Pitāmaha’ to reflect on a remedy that will secure their welfare and preserve their divinely granted nature.