Shloka 38
बक-गौतमाख्यानम् / The Baka–Gautama Account
On Gratitude and Friendship Ethics
चन्द्रमा विमल॑ व्योम यथाभ्युदिततारकम् । विकीर्याग्निं तथा भूतमुत्थितं श्रूयते तदा,उस समय वहाँ एक अत्यन्त भयंकर घटना घटित हुई, जिसे मैंने ऋषियोंके मुँहसे सुना था। जैसे ताराओंके उगनेपर निर्मल आकाशमें चन्द्रमाका उदय हो, उसी प्रकार उस यज्ञमण्डपमें अग्निको इधर-उधर बिखेरकर एक भयंकर भूत प्रकट हुआ, ऐसा सुना जाता है
candramā vimalaṃ vyoma yathābhyuditatārakam | vikīryāgniṃ tathā bhūtam utthitaṃ śrūyate tadā ||
Bhishma disse: “Assim como a lua se ergue num céu imaculado quando as estrelas já surgiram, do mesmo modo—espalhando o fogo do sacrifício em todas as direções—diz-se que, naquele instante, um ser-espírito aterrador se levantou ali. Esse acontecimento terrível, ouvi, foi narrado pelos sábios.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how ritual space and moral order (dharma) are portrayed as sensitive to disturbance: a sacrificial setting, meant for auspicious order, becomes the stage for a fearful manifestation. It also signals the Mahābhārata’s reliance on transmitted testimony—‘it is said/heard’—to frame extraordinary events within respected tradition.
Bhīṣma describes (as heard from sages) a terrifying incident: in a sacrificial arena, a dreadful spirit-being arises after scattering the sacred fire. The emergence is likened to the moon appearing in a clear sky once the stars are visible, emphasizing sudden, striking visibility.