Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 323
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
तमोघनायामपि वै निशायां विचरिष्यथ । बिलमें रहते समय तुम आहार न मिलनेके कारण अचेत और निष्प्राण होकर सूख जाओगे तो भी भूमि तुम्हें धारण किये रहेगी--वर्षाका जल मिलनेपर तुम पुन: जीवित हो उठोगे। घने अन्धकारसे भरी हुई रात्रिमें भी तुम विचरते रहोगे
tamoghanāyām api vai niśāyāṁ vicariṣyatha |
毗湿摩说道：“纵在浓黑之夜，汝亦将行走不息。即便藏身穴中，因无食而昏厥，似乎无生，枯槁如干，然大地仍将承载汝；及至雨季来水，汝复得苏生。故虽幽冥稠密，汝终不改其行。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes endurance and continuity: even in conditions of extreme obscurity and hardship, one persists. Ethically, it points to steadfastness—remaining active and sustained despite deprivation and darkness.
Bhīṣma is describing a condition of survival and persistence: the addressed beings continue to move even in dense night-darkness, and even if they become inert from lack of food while hidden, they can revive when life-supporting conditions (like rain-water) return.