Shloka 66
Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances
तलवद्ू दृश्यते व्योम खद्योतो हव्यवाडिव । न चैवास्ति तल॑ व्योम्नि खद्योते न हुताशन:
talavad dṛśyate vyoma khadyoto havyavāḍ iva | na caivāsti talaṁ vyomni khadyote na hutāśanaḥ ||
ພີສະມະກ່າວວ່າ: «ຟ້າເບິ່ງຄືພື້ນດ້ານໃນຂອງກະທະທີ່ຄວ່ຳລົງ, ແລະແມງກະພືດສ່ອງແສງກໍເບິ່ງຄືໄຟ. ແຕ່ແທ້ຈິງແລ້ວ ໃນຟ້າບໍ່ມີ ‘ກົ້ນກະທະ’ ແລະໃນແມງກະພືດກໍບໍ່ມີໄຟແທ້»។
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma illustrates how appearances can mislead: the mind projects form and substance where none truly exist. Like the sky seeming to have a ‘surface’ and a firefly seeming to contain fire, many worldly judgments mistake seeming for being; ethical discernment requires seeing beyond mere appearance.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma continues instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on right understanding and conduct. Here he uses two everyday images—sky and firefly—to clarify a philosophical point about illusion and misapprehension, supporting the broader counsel on wise discrimination in dharma.