Shloka 19
ब्राह्मणपूजायां व्युष्टिः — Vyuṣṭi (Merit-Outcome) of Honoring Brāhmaṇas: Kṛṣṇa and Durvāsā
स तु वह्निर्महाज्वालो दग्ध्वा सर्वमशेषत: । विष्णो: समीप आगम्य पादौ शिष्यवदस्पृशत्
sa tu vahnir mahājvālo dagdhvā sarvam aśeṣataḥ | viṣṇoḥ samīpa āgamya pādau śiṣyavad aspṛśat |
Bhishma sprach: Jenes Feuer, mit großen Flammenzungen lodernd, verbrannte alles restlos. Dann trat es zu Lord Vishnu heran und berührte Seine Füße, wie ein Schüler die Füße des Lehrers berührt—als Zeichen von Ehrfurcht und Hingabe—und wurde dort in Ihm aufgenommen.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even overwhelming power (the all-consuming fire) is ultimately subordinate to the Supreme; the ethical ideal presented is humility and reverent surrender—approaching the divine as a disciple approaches a guru.
A great blazing fire burns everything completely, then comes near Vishnu, touches His feet in a disciple-like gesture of reverence, and is absorbed into Him, indicating cessation and return to the divine source.