Shloka 24
Phala of Vrata, Niyama, Svādhyāya, Dama, Satya, Brahmacarya, and Service (व्रत-नियम-स्वाध्याय-दम-सत्य-ब्रह्मचर्य-शुश्रूषा-फलप्रश्नः)
वैदूर्यार्फप्रकाशानि रूप्यरुक्ममयानि च । तरुणादित्यवर्णानि स्थावराणि चराणि च
bhīṣma uvāca | vaidūryārkaprakāśāni rūpyarukmamayāni ca | taruṇādityavarṇāni sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca |
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Ang ilan sa mga palasyong-lumilipad ay kumikislap sa liwanag ng vaidūrya (batong ‘cat’s-eye’) at ng araw; ang ilan ay yari sa pilak at ginto. Ang ilan ay nagliliwanag sa mapulang kulay ng batang araw sa umaga. Sa mga vimāna roon, may mga nakapirmi at may mga nakagagalaw ayon sa nais.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the Mahabharata’s moral imagination: righteous merit (dharma) is portrayed as yielding refined, luminous rewards—symbolized by radiant, gem-like, gold-and-silver vimānas—suggesting that ethical conduct culminates in elevated states of being and honor.
Bhishma is describing splendid vimānas—some shining like cat’s-eye gems and the sun, some made of silver and gold, some red like the morning sun—distinguishing between those that are stationary and those that can move freely at will.