Shloka 39
बक-गौतमाख्यानम् / The Baka–Gautama Account
On Gratitude and Friendship Ethics
नीलोत्पलसवर्णाभ॑ तीक्षणदंष्टं कृशोदरम् । प्रांशुं सुदुर्धरषतरं तथैव हमितौजसम्,उसके शरीरका रंग नीलकमलके समान श्याम था, दाढ़ें अत्यन्त तीखी दिखायी देती थीं; और उसका पेट अत्यन्त कृश था। वह बहुत ऊँचा, परम दुर्धर्ष और अमित तेजस्वी जान पड़ता था
nīlotpalasavarṇābhaṃ tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭraṃ kṛśodaram | prāṃśuṃ sudurdharṣataraṃ tathaiva hamitaujasam ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Ang kulay ng katawan nito’y maitim na gaya ng bughaw na lotus; ang mga pangil ay lubhang matatalim, at ang tiyan ay napakapayat. Tila napakatangkad nito, di-masasalag, at nagtataglay ng ningning na di-masukat.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how extraordinary power and fearsome appearance can coexist with austerity-like leanness; in Shanti Parva’s ethical frame, such descriptions often serve to highlight the awe inspired by formidable beings and to caution that true discernment should look beyond mere external terror or brilliance when judging dharma.
Bhishma is describing a formidable being’s physical traits—dark-blue-lotus hue, sharp fangs, lean abdomen, great height, and immeasurable radiance—emphasizing its near-invincibility and overwhelming presence within the ongoing discourse of Shanti Parva.