Shloka 18
Vivāha-dharma: Kanyā-pradāna, Śulka, and Pāṇigrahaṇa-niṣṭhā (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४४)
प्रतिबिम्बमिवादर्शे गुरुपत्न्या: शरीरगम् | स तं घोरेण तपसा युक्त दृष्टवा पुरन्दर:
pratibimbam ivādarśe gurupatnyāḥ śarīragam | sa taṃ ghoreṇa tapasā yuktaṃ dṛṣṭvā purandaraḥ |
భీష్ముడు పలికెను—అద్దంలో ప్రతిబింబంలా, గురుపత్నీ శరీరంలో ఉన్న ఆ రూపాన్ని అతడు చూచెను. అతడు ఘోర తపస్సుతో యుక్తుడై ఉన్నాడని గమనించి పురందరుడు ఇంద్రుడు స్పష్టంగా గుర్తించాడు.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how severe tapas (austerity) draws divine attention and implies an ethical tension: ascetic power and inner discipline are significant, yet they may invite tests or interventions. It also gestures toward the importance of guarding one’s mind and conduct when confronted with alluring appearances, especially involving the guru’s household, which is a sensitive domain of dharma.
Bhīṣma describes a scene where a figure perceives the guru’s wife’s form as if it were a mirror-like reflection, while Indra (Purandara) observes him performing intense austerities. The narrative is setting up Indra’s awareness and likely response to the ascetic’s growing spiritual potency.