Shloka 10
Brāhmaṇa-pūjā and Namaskāra: Criteria of Reverence and Non-Offense (ब्राह्मणपूजा-नमस्कारविधिः)
तरक्षोश्ष्म दंष्टाश्न तथैव गिरिकच्छप: । आज्यधूमो बिडालश्नच्छाग: कृष्णोडथ पिड्ूल:
tarakṣoṣma-daṃṣṭrāśna tathāiva girikacchapaḥ | ājya-dhūmo biḍālāśna-cchāgaḥ kṛṣṇo 'tha piṇḍūlaḥ ||
Wika ni Bhishma: Sa bahay na ang sagradong apoy ng Agnihotra ay laging nagliliyab araw at gabi; na may balat ng isang “maliit na tigre” (hayop na kahawig ng hyena/asukal) kasama ang mga ngipin nito, at isang pagong sa kabundukan; na may mabangong usok na umaakyat mula sa pag-aalay ng ghee; at na may isang pusa at isang kambing—itim o kulay-dilaw-kayumanggi—kapag naroon ang lahat ng ito sa tahanan ng isang maybahay, ang mga nakatatakot na nilalang na kumakain ng laman at gumagala sa gabi ay hindi aatake sa sambahayang iyon.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that steadfast maintenance of the Agnihotra and certain traditional protective observances are regarded as dharmic safeguards for a householder, creating a sanctified environment that repels harmful nocturnal forces.
Bhishma is instructing on household dharma, listing ritual signs and items associated with a properly maintained home—especially the ever-burning sacred fire and the smoke of ghee-offerings—and stating that such a home is not assailed by fearsome flesh-eating night-roamers.