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,*देवि! मैंने गेरआ वस्त्र नहीं धारण किया, वल्कलव्स्त्र नहीं पहना, मूँड़ नहीं मुड़ाया और बड़ी-बड़ी जटाएँ नहीं रखायीं। वह सब करके मैं देवलोकमें नहीं आयी हूँ
nāhaṃ kāṣāyavasanā nāpi valkaladhāriṇī | na ca muṇḍā ca jaṭilā bhūtvā devatvam āgatā ||
Bhishma berkata: “Aku tidak mencapai ketuhanan dengan mengenakan jubah oker, dan bukan pula dengan memakai pakaian daripada kulit kayu; aku juga tidak sampai ke darjat para dewa dengan mencukur kepala atau membiarkan rambut bergumpal kusut. Bukan melalui tanda-tanda zahir pertapaan seperti itu aku datang ke alam dewa.”
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.