Shloka 5
धर्मस्य बहुद्वारत्वम् — Nārada’s Audience with Indra (Śānti-parva 340)
नीलवैदूर्यसदृश इन्द्रनीलनिभ: क्वचित् | मयूरग्रीववर्णा भो मुक्ताहारनिभ: क्वचित्,कहीं नीलवैदूर्य, कहीं इन्द्रनीलमणि, कहीं मोरकी ग्रीवाके सदृश वर्ण और कहीं मोतीके हारकी-सी कान्ति दृष्टिगोचर होती थी
nīlavaidūryasadṛśa indrānīlanibhaḥ kvacit | mayūragrīvavarṇā bho muktāhāranibhaḥ kvacit |
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—କେଉଁଠି ସେ ନୀଳ ବୈଦୂର୍ୟ ପରି, କେଉଁଠି ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରନୀଳ ମଣି ପରି; କେବେ ମୟୂର ଗ୍ରୀବା ସଦୃଶ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣ, କେବେ ମୁକ୍ତାହାର ପରି କାନ୍ତି ଦେଖାଯାଉଥିଲା।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily uses jewel-and-nature similes to convey extraordinary splendour and auspiciousness; ethically, it reflects the epic’s tendency to point from sensory beauty to the recognition of higher, refined qualities (tejas, śrī) that inspire reverence and self-restraint rather than greed.
Bhīṣma is describing a wondrous appearance whose colour and sheen shift in perception—now like blue vaidūrya, now like sapphire, now like a peacock’s neck, now like a pearl necklace—emphasizing its striking, many-faceted radiance.