Shloka 31
बृहत् शरीरश्न पुनश्वलीरवासा: पुन: कृश: । गौरं श्यामं च कृष्णं च वर्ण विकुरुते पुन:,कभी विशाल एवं हृष्ट-पुष्ट शरीर धारण करते हैं तो कभी दुर्बल शरीरमें चिथड़े लपेटे दिखायी देते हैं। कभी गोरे, कभी साँवले और कभी काले रंगके रूप बदलते रहते हैं
bṛhat śarīraś ca punaś cīrāvāsaḥ punaḥ kṛśaḥ | gauraṃ śyāmaṃ ca kṛṣṇaṃ ca varṇaṃ vikurute punaḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Ada kalanya dia mengambil tubuh yang besar dan tegap; ada kalanya pula dia tampak kurus kering, berselimut kain compang-camping. Berkali-kali dia mengubah warna kulitnya—kadang cerah, kadang gelap, kadang hitam—demikianlah dia menyarung rupa yang sentiasa berubah.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the instability of outward form—body, clothing, and complexion can change repeatedly—encouraging discernment that ethical worth and dharma are not to be judged by external appearance.
Bhīṣma describes a figure whose appearance keeps shifting: sometimes strong and well-built, sometimes frail and rag-clad, and whose complexion alternates between fair, dark, and black—emphasizing a recurring transformation.