Shloka 9
उवाच चैन मधुरं नृपं शान्तनवो नृप: । प्रविशस्व पुरी राजन् व्येतु ते मानसो ज्वरः
uvāca caina madhuraṁ nṛpaṁ śāntanavo nṛpaḥ | praviśasva purīṁ rājan vyetu te mānaso jvaraḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Then the Śāntanava prince (Bhīṣma), speaking gently to the king, said, “O King, enter the city now; may the fever of your mind—your anxious distress—be dispelled.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical power of gentle, well-timed counsel: a ruler’s inner agitation (mānaso jvara) should be soothed through compassionate speech and a return to rightful, orderly action rather than impulsive reaction.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Bhīṣma, the Śāntanava, addresses the king with sweet words, urging him to enter the city and blessing him that his mental distress will subside.