Shloka 10
तरक्षोश्ष्म दंष्टाश्न तथैव गिरिकच्छप: । आज्यधूमो बिडालश्नच्छाग: कृष्णोडथ पिड्ूल:,जिसके घरमें अग्निहोत्रकी अग्नि नित्य--दिन-रात देदीप्यमान रहती है, छोटे जातिके बाघ (जरख) का चर्म, उसीकी दाढ़ें तथा पहाड़ी कछुआ मौजूद रहता है, घीकी आहुतिसे सुगन्धित धूम निकलता रहता है, बिलाव तथा काला या पीला बकरा रहता है, जिन गृहस्थोंके घरोंमें ये सभी वस्तुएँ स्थित होती हैं, उन घरोंपर भयंकर मांसभक्षी निशाचर आक्रमण नहीं करते हैं
tarakṣoṣma-daṃṣṭrāśna tathāiva girikacchapaḥ | ājya-dhūmo biḍālāśna-cchāgaḥ kṛṣṇo 'tha piṇḍūlaḥ ||
Bhishma said: In a house where the sacred Agnihotra fire is kept ever blazing day and night; where there is the hide of a small tiger-like beast (hyena or jackal) together with its teeth, and a mountain tortoise; where fragrant smoke rises from offerings of ghee; and where there is a cat and a goat—black or tawny—when all these are present in a householder’s home, dreadful flesh-eating night-roamers do not attack that household.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that steadfast maintenance of the Agnihotra and certain traditional protective observances are regarded as dharmic safeguards for a householder, creating a sanctified environment that repels harmful nocturnal forces.
Bhishma is instructing on household dharma, listing ritual signs and items associated with a properly maintained home—especially the ever-burning sacred fire and the smoke of ghee-offerings—and stating that such a home is not assailed by fearsome flesh-eating night-roamers.