Shloka 8
Umā’s Inquiry and the Manifestation of the Third Eye (उमा–प्रश्नः तृतीयनेत्रोत्पत्तिः)
नाहं काषायवसना नापि वल्कलधारिणी । न च मुण्डा च जटिला भूत्वा देवत्वमागता
nāhaṃ kāṣāyavasanā nāpi valkaladhāriṇī | na ca muṇḍā ca jaṭilā bhūtvā devatvam āgatā ||
Bhishma dit : «Je n’ai pas atteint la divinité en revêtant des robes ocre, ni en portant des vêtements d’écorce ; je ne suis pas non plus parvenue à l’état des dieux en me rasant la tête ou en laissant mes cheveux se nouer en mèches emmêlées. Ce n’est pas par de tels signes extérieurs d’ascèse que je suis venue au monde divin.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses that spiritual attainment and higher states are not secured merely by external signs of renunciation (robes, bark-garments, shaving, matted hair). True merit is grounded in inner discipline and dharmic conduct rather than appearance.
In Bhishma’s discourse, a female voice (indicated by feminine forms like dhāriṇī/āgatā) addresses “Devi” and denies that her reaching the divine realm was due to outward ascetic practices, redirecting attention from external austerities to the real causes of divine attainment.