Shloka 9

Bhīṣma’s Yogic Departure, Royal Cremation, and Gaṅgā’s Lament (भीष्मस्य योगयुक्त्या देहत्यागः, पितृमेधः, गङ्गाविलापः)

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त: स तदा कृष्णस्तपोवननिवासिभि: । मानयामास तान्‌ सवनिषीन्‌ देवकिनन्दन:,तपोवन-निवासी मुनियोंके ऐसा कहनेपर देवकीनन्दन भगवान्‌ श्रीकृष्णने उस समय उन सबका विशेष सत्कार किया

Transliteration

ity uktaḥ sa tadā kṛṣṇas tapovana-nivāsibhiḥ | mānayāmāsa tān sarvān niṣaṇṇān devakī-nandanaḥ ||

Translation

Thus addressed by the sages dwelling in the forest of austerities, Kṛṣṇa—Devakī’s son—at that time honored them all with special respect as they sat assembled.

Word by Word

इतिthus

उक्तःhaving been addressed/said to

सःhe

तदाthen

कृष्णःKrishna

तपोवन-निवासिभिःby the residents of the penance-grove (ascetics)

मानयामासhonoured / paid respect

तान्them

सवनिषीन्those seated/settled (there)

देवकी-नन्दनःDevaki's son

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

Kṛṣṇa

Devakī

tapovana-nivāsinaḥ (forest-dwelling sages/ascetics)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic conduct: even the most powerful should honor ascetics and the spiritually disciplined. Respect (māna) and hospitality toward sages are presented as marks of true virtue and self-mastery.

What is happening in the narrative?

After the tapovana-dwelling sages address Kṛṣṇa, he responds not with pride but by giving them special honor and courteous reception as they sit assembled in the hermitage setting.