Shloka 40
वृत्ति-सत्सङ्ग-दान-धर्म
Livelihood, Virtuous Association, and Ethics of Giving
ऊर्ध्वकेशोडतिरोमाडु: श्येनोलूकस्तथैव च
ūrdhvakeśo 'tirōmāḍhyaḥ śyenolūkas tathaiva ca | tasya keśā ūrdhvaṃ samutthitāḥ, sarvāṅgāni śyenolūkavat atirōmāṇi; śarīravarṇaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ vikārālaś ca; vastrāṇi lohitavarṇāni | sa mahāśaktimān puruṣas taṃ yajñaṃ tathā dagdhavān yathāgniḥ śuṣkakāṣṭha-tṛṇa-puñjaṃ dahitvā bhasmasāt karoti ||
毗湿摩说道：“他的头发倒竖而起，周身密布粗硬之毛，宛如鹰与鸮之羽。其色黝黑而狰狞，衣袍尽赤。那强力无比的存在随即将那祭祀焚尽无余——正如烈火吞噬枯木与干草堆，终使之化为灰烬。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that ritual action (yajña) is not automatically protected by its outward form; when confronted by overwhelming, often morally charged force, even sacred enterprises can be annihilated. It cautions that dharmic order depends on inner integrity and right context, not mere ceremony.
Bhishma describes a fearsome, powerful figure—marked by raised hair, bristling body, dark and terrifying appearance, and red garments—who burns a sacrifice completely, like fire consuming dry wood or straw.