Shloka 48
बक-गौतमाख्यानम् / The Baka–Gautama Account
On Gratitude and Friendship Ethics
ऊर्ध्वदृष्टिमहालिड्री मुखाज्ज्वाला: समुत्सृजन् । विकुर्वन् बहुधा वर्णान् नीलपाण्डुरलोहितान्,उसकी दृष्टि ऊपरकी ओर थी, वह महान् चिह्न धारण किये हुए था। मुखसे आगकी लपटें छोड़ रहा था और अपने अड़ोंसे नील, श्वेत तथा लोहित (लाल) अनेक प्रकारके रंग प्रकट कर रहा था
ūrdhvadṛṣṭir mahāliṅgī mukhāj jvālāḥ samutsṛjan | vikurvan bahudhā varṇān nīlapāṇḍuralohitān ||
ಅವನ ದೃಷ್ಟಿ ಮೇಲ್ಮುಖವಾಗಿತ್ತು; ಅವನು ಮಹತ್ತಾದ ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ಚಿಹ್ನೆಯನ್ನು ಧರಿಸಿದ್ದನು. ಅವನು ಮುಖದಿಂದ ಜ್ವಾಲೆಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊರಸೂಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದನು; ತನ್ನ ರೂಪಾಂತರಶಕ್ತಿಯಿಂದ ನೀಲ, ಪಾಂಡುರ (ಧವಳ) ಮತ್ತು ಲೋಹಿತ—ಅನೇಕ ವರ್ಣಗಳನ್ನು ಪ್ರದರ್ಶಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದನು.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary manifestations—flames, upward-fixed gaze, and shifting colors—function as liṅgas (signs) indicating a being or force operating beyond ordinary dharma-bound human capacity. Ethically, it cautions the listener to read such signs with discernment: power and spectacle are not themselves virtue, but they signal a heightened, potentially consequential presence that demands careful response.
Bhīṣma describes a formidable figure whose eyes are turned upward, who bears a prominent distinguishing mark, and who emits flames from the mouth while displaying multiple colors—blue, pale-white, and red—suggesting a terrifying, supernatural or portentous appearance being witnessed or recalled within the Śānti Parva discourse.