Shloka 17
Vivāha-dharma: Kanyā-pradāna, Śulka, and Pāṇigrahaṇa-niṣṭhā (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४४)
अवैक्षत सहस्राक्षस्तदा दिव्येन चक्षुषा । स ददर्श मुनि तस्या: शरीरान्तरगोचरम्
avaikṣata sahasrākṣas tadā divyena cakṣuṣā | sa dadarśa munis tasyāḥ śarīrāntaragocaram ||
Bhishma disse: Então Indra, o de mil olhos, olhou com sua visão divina. E viu o sábio que havia entrado no interior do corpo dela—revelando a verdade oculta por trás de sua condição exterior e a causa íntima de sua mudança.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that moral and factual reality may be concealed by outward appearances, and that true discernment—symbolized by Indra’s divine sight—penetrates to inner causes. Ethically, it cautions against judging solely by externals and points to the need for deeper insight when assessing conduct and consequence.
After hearing what has been said, Indra (called Sahasrākṣa) uses divine vision to look at the woman and perceives a sage present within her body—an unseen factor explaining her inner agitation and the situation’s hidden truth.