Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, 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
nāhaṃ kāṣāyavasanā nāpi valkaladhāriṇī | na ca muṇḍā ca jaṭilā bhūtvā devatvam āgatā ||
ਦੇਵੀ! ਮੈਂ ਨਾ ਕੇਸਰੀ (ਕਾਸ਼ਾਇ) ਬਸਤਰ ਪਹਿਨੇ, ਨਾ ਛਾਲ ਦੇ ਕੱਪੜੇ ਧਾਰੇ; ਨਾ ਸਿਰ ਮੁੰਡਵਾਇਆ, ਨਾ ਜਟਾਂ ਰੱਖੀਆਂ—ਇਹੋ ਜਿਹੇ ਬਾਹਰੀ ਤਪ-ਚਿੰਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਮੈਂ ਦੇਵਤ੍ਵ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋਈ।
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.