Shloka 31
Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)
बृहत् शरीरश्न पुनश्वलीरवासा: पुन: कृश: । गौरं श्यामं च कृष्णं च वर्ण विकुरुते पुन:
bṛhat śarīraś ca punaś cīrāvāsaḥ punaḥ kṛśaḥ | gauraṃ śyāmaṃ ca kṛṣṇaṃ ca varṇaṃ vikurute punaḥ ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Kung minsan ay inaangkin niya ang katawang malaki at matipuno; kung minsan nama’y payat at lupaypay, balot sa mga basahang punit. Paulit-ulit din niyang binabago ang kulay ng balat—minsan maputi, minsan maitim, minsan itim na itim—kaya’t iba-iba ang anyong kanyang tinataglay.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the instability of outward form—body, clothing, and complexion can change repeatedly—encouraging discernment that ethical worth and dharma are not to be judged by external appearance.
Bhīṣma describes a figure whose appearance keeps shifting: sometimes strong and well-built, sometimes frail and rag-clad, and whose complexion alternates between fair, dark, and black—emphasizing a recurring transformation.