Shloka 9

भीष्मदर्शनार्थं प्रस्थानम्

Departure to Behold Bhīṣma

Devanagari script

मड़लालम्भनं कृत्वा आत्मानमवलोक्य च । आदर्शे विमले कृष्णस्तत: सात्यकिमब्रवीत्‌,इसके बाद माड़लिक वस्तुओंका स्पर्श करके भगवानने स्वच्छ दर्पणमें अपने स्वरूपका दर्शन किया और सात्यकिसे कहा--

Transliteration

maṇḍalālambhanaṃ kṛtvā ātmānam avalokya ca | ādarśe vimale kṛṣṇas tataḥ sātyakim abravīt ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Having performed the act of taking up the ritual emblem (maṇḍala) and then looking upon himself, Kṛṣṇa beheld his own form in a spotless mirror. Thereafter he addressed Sātyaki—an action that frames his next words as deliberate, self-possessed, and ethically purposeful rather than impulsive.

Word by Word

मृडालालम्बनम्support/holding of a lotus-stalk (i.e., taking hold of a lotus-stalk)

कृत्वाhaving done

आत्मानम्himself

अवलोक्यhaving looked at/observed

चand

आदर्शेin the mirror

विमलेclean, spotless

कृष्णःKrishna

ततःthen, thereafter

सात्यकिम्Satyaki (as the one addressed/spoken to)

अब्रवीत्said, spoke

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Kṛṣṇa

Sātyaki (Yuyudhāna)

ādarśa (mirror)

maṇḍala (ritual emblem/diagram)

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?

The verse foregrounds intentionality and inner clarity: before speaking, Kṛṣṇa performs a prescribed observance and looks into a spotless mirror, symbolizing self-examination and purity of purpose—ethical counsel should arise from composure and discernment, not agitation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates a brief preparatory scene: Kṛṣṇa completes a ceremonial act involving a maṇḍala, views his own form in a clean mirror, and then turns to address Sātyaki, setting up the ensuing instruction or directive.