Shloka 87
कर्णेन युधिष्ठिरानीकविदारणम् / Karṇa’s Breach of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Battle-Line
स्वैश्व पारिषदैर्देव: पूज्यमानो महायशा:
svaiś ca pāriṣadair devaḥ pūjyamāno mahāyaśāḥ |
Bhīṣma berkata: Pada ketika itu, Mahādeva yang agung lagi termasyhur sedang dipuja oleh para pengiringnya sendiri. Gaṇa-gaṇa Śiva yang sukar ditandingi menari, berlari ke segala penjuru, sambil menjerit menegur dan memarahi sesama mereka. Antara para pengiring itu ada juga makhluk-makhluk seumpama hantu dan roh, yang memakan daging.
पितामह उवाच
Educational Q&A
Śiva’s supremacy is shown through the devotion of even fearsome, liminal beings (gaṇas, bhūtas). The passage suggests that true divinity commands reverence beyond social notions of purity, inspiring awe and surrender rather than ordinary judgment.
Bhīṣma describes a vivid scene of Mahādeva being worshipped by his own attendants. The gaṇas dance and rush about, shouting at one another, and some are depicted as flesh-eaters—highlighting the wild, formidable atmosphere surrounding Śiva.