Shloka 15
Daṇḍotpatti-kathana (Origin and Function of Daṇḍa) — वसुहोम–मान्धातृ संवाद
नीलोत्पलदलश्यामश्नतुर्वष्ट श्वतुर्भुज: । अष्टपान्नैकनयन: शंकुकर्णोर्ध्वरीमवान्
nīlotpaladalaśyāmaś caturdaṃṣṭraś caturbhujaḥ | aṣṭapān naikanayanaḥ śaṅkukarṇordhvaromavān ||
毗湿摩说：“其身光泽幽暗，如青莲之瓣。他有四牙四臂；八足多目。其耳如桩，其毛皆竖。”此等描绘凸显一种令人敬畏而可怖的形相——意在使听者明白，在史诗的道德宇宙中，强大之力往往伴随压倒性的威势与震慑。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses vivid physical imagery to communicate moral and psychological impact: certain beings or forces are portrayed as terrifying and extraordinary to signal their power and the seriousness of the ethical situation being discussed in Bhishma’s instruction.
In Bhishma’s discourse in the Shanti Parva, he describes a formidable figure with striking, non-human features—dark like a blue lotus petal, with multiple limbs and eyes—emphasizing awe and dread as part of the didactic narrative.