Shloka 9

Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant

Devanagari script

इध्मोदकप्रदातारं शून्यपालं ममाश्रमे । विनीतमाचार्यकुले सुयुक्त गुरुकर्मणि

Transliteration

idhmodaka-pradātāraṁ śūnya-pālaṁ mamāśrame | vinītam ācārya-kule suyuktaṁ guru-karmaṇi |

Translation

Bhishma sprach: „‚O König, er bringt mir Brennholz und Wasser. Wenn meine Einsiedelei leer ist, bewacht er sie. Da er im Haus des Lehrers lebte, hat er Demut und Zucht gelernt und ist in rechter Weise den Pflichten des Dienstes am Guru zugewandt.‘“

Word by Word

• इध्मोदकप्रदातारम्: the giver of firewood and water
• इध्मोदकप्रदातारम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: इध्म-उदक-प्रदाता (प्रदातृ)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शून्यपालम्: the guardian of the (ashram) when empty
• शून्यपालम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शून्यपाल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• मम: of me / my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• आश्रमे: in (my) hermitage
• आश्रमे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• विनीतम्: well-disciplined, trained
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनीत (वि-नी + क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आचार्यकुले: in the teacher's household
• आचार्यकुले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्यकुल
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• सुयुक्तम्: well-engaged, properly employed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुयुक्त (सु-युज् + क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• गुरुकर्मणि: in the duties/service of the teacher
• गुरुकर्मणि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरुकर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma (Bhīṣma)
• the King (Rājan, addressed)
• āśrama (hermitage)
• ācārya-kula (teacher’s household/gurukula)
• idhma (firewood)
• udaka (water)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical value of humble service and disciplined training: one who faithfully performs simple duties (bringing firewood and water), protects what is entrusted to him, and remains properly engaged in guru-service is praised as well-trained and worthy.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma is describing a devoted attendant/guardian in his hermitage—someone who supplies necessities, guards the ashram when it is empty, and has been trained in the teacher’s household—emphasizing the person’s suitability and disciplined conduct.