Shloka 9

Gratitude, Discernment, and the Escalation of Power (Śvā–Dvipī–Vyāghra–Nāga–Siṃha–Śarabha Itihāsa)

Devanagari script

भक्तो<नुरक्त: सततमुपवासकृशोडबल: । फलमूलोदकाहार: शान्त: शिष्टाकृतिर्यथा,वह उन महामुनिका भक्त और उनमें अनुरक्त था; उपवास करनेके कारण दुर्बल एवं निर्बल हो गया था। वह भी फल-मूल और जलका आहार करके रहता, मनको वशमें रखता और साधु-पुरुषोंके समान जीवन बिताता था

Transliteration

bhakto 'nuraktaḥ satatam upavāsa-kṛśo 'balāḥ | phala-mūlodakāhāraḥ śāntaḥ śiṣṭākṛtir yathā ||

Translation

Bhishma said: “He was a devoted follower, ever bound by loyal attachment, emaciated and weakened by fasting. Living only on fruits, roots, and water, he remained self-controlled and serene, conducting himself with the decorum of the virtuous.”

Word by Word

भक्तःdevoted

अनुरक्तःattached, devotedly devoted

सततम्always, constantly

उपवासकृशःemaciated due to fasting

उद्बलःweak, feeble

फलमूलोदकाहारःone whose food is fruits, roots, and water

शान्तःcalm, self-controlled

शिष्टाकृतिःhaving the demeanor of the cultured (a gentlemanly bearing)

यथाas, like

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True devotion is shown through disciplined living: austerity (fasting), simplicity of diet, and inner restraint that expresses itself as calmness and cultured conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes a devotee/ascetic figure whose constant devotion leads him to sustained fasting and a minimal diet of fruits, roots, and water; despite physical weakness, he maintains peace of mind and exemplary behavior.