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 ||
毗湿摩说：凡家中昼夜常燃阿耆尼火供（Agnihotra）之圣火者；又备有小虎类之兽（似鬣狗或豺）之皮与其牙，并有山龟；以酥油（ghee）供献而香烟袅袅上腾；且家中养有一猫与一羊——或黑或黄褐——若此诸物皆具于居士之家，则可怖的食肉夜行之魑魅不敢侵袭其宅。
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.