अग्निर् उवाच
नापः प्रवेष्टुं शक्ष्यामि क्षयो मे ऽत्र भविष्यति ॥
शरणं त्वां प्रपन्नो ऽस्मि स्वस्ति ते ऽस्तु महाद्युते ॥
अद्भ्यो ऽग्निर् ब्रह्मतः क्षत्रम् अश्मनो लोहम् उत्थितम् ॥
तेषां सर्वत्रगं तेजः स्वासु योनिषु शाम्यति ॥
agnir uvāca
nāpaḥ praveṣṭuṃ śakṣyāmi kṣayo me 'tra bhaviṣyati ||
śaraṇaṃ tvāṃ prapanno 'smi svasti te 'stu mahādyute ||
adbhyo 'gnir brahmataḥ kṣatram aśmano loham utthitam ||
teṣāṃ sarvatragaṃ tejaḥ svāsu yoniṣu śāmyati ||
'O brahmin, what shall I do for you?' The preceptor of the gods then said to him: 'O illustrious god, enter the water.' Agni said: 'I cannot enter the water. Extinction awaits me there. I place myself in your hands, O you who shine with great splendor. May it be well with you!' Fire arises from water, the kshatriya caste from the brahmin caste, and iron has its origin in stone. The power of those things that can penetrate all else has no effect upon the very sources from which they spring.
87ef64b45d57 · published Jul 17, 2026, 3:31:49 AM UTC
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This passage (5.15.31-32) continues the central theme of the Udyoga-parva: the effort toward peace unfolds even against the backdrop of an unavoidable war. Dharma reveals itself here through speech, the choice of envoys, faithfulness to one's word, and the responsibility kings bear for the consequences of their decisions.