Shloka 84
रक्त शिरसि धार्य तु तथा वानेयमित्यपि । कांचनीयापि माला या न सा दुष्यति कहिचित्,लाल रंगके फूल तथा वन्य पुष्पको मस्तकपर धारण करना चाहिये। सोनेकी माला पहननेसे कभी अशुद्ध नहीं होती
raktaśirasi dhārya tu tathā vāneyam ity api | kāñcanīyāpi mālā yā na sā duṣyati kahicit ||
Bhīṣma says that one may wear on the head red-colored flowers, even if they are wild forest blossoms. Likewise, a garland made of gold never becomes ritually impure.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Certain items are considered non-defiling in prescribed religious or social observances: wearing red flowers (even wild ones) is acceptable, and a golden garland is regarded as inherently not subject to impurity. The verse clarifies norms of śauca (purity) and acceptable adornment within dharma.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and proper conduct. Here he gives a specific rule about what may be worn on the head and what does not incur ritual impurity, using examples of forest flowers and a gold garland.