Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 213
Go-mahātmyam: Pavitrāṇāṃ Pavitraṃ
Cows and Ghee as Supreme Purifiers
नानावर्णत्वमनयन्मेघानिव दिवाकर: । प्रजानाथ! रुद्रका वह भयंकर तेज जिन-जिन कपिलाओंपर पड़ा
nānāvarṇatvam anayan meghān iva divākaraḥ | prajānātha! rudrakā vaha bhayaṅkara teja jin-jin kapilāoṃpar paṛā, unke raṅga nānā prakārake ho gaye | jaise sūrya bādalokoṃ apnī kiraṇoṃse bahuraṅgā banā dete haiṃ, usī prakāra us tejne un sabko nānā varṇavālī kara diyā |
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “O panginoon ng mga nilalang, ang kakila-kilabot na ningning na isinilang kay Rudra ay nagpagbihis sa kanila ng sari-saring kulay, gaya ng araw na sa kaniyang mga sinag ay ginagawang makulay ang mga ulap. Gayon din, saanman bumagsak ang mabagsik na liwanag na iyon sa mga mapusyaw na kayumanggi, naging iba-iba ang kanilang mga kulay.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how overwhelming divine/ascetic energy (tejas) can transform appearances and conditions, using a natural simile (sun colouring clouds) to convey the irresistible, world-shaping force of higher power—an ethical reminder that rulers and beings alike are subject to forces beyond ordinary control.
Bhīṣma describes a fearsome radiance associated with Rudra that falls upon the ‘kapilā’ beings and makes their colours change into many hues, likening the effect to sunlight making clouds look multicoloured.