Shloka 9

Sārasvata–Dadhīca Upākhyāna at Sarasvatī Tīrtha

Balarāma’s Pilgrimage Context

Devanagari script

जैगीषव्यं मुनिवरं न ददर्शाथ देवल: । आहारकाले मतिमान्‌ परिव्राड़ जनमेजय

Transliteration

jaigīṣavyaṃ munivaraṃ na dadarśātha devalaḥ | āhārakāle matimān parivrāḍ janamejaya

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana dit : Alors Devala ne vit plus l’éminent sage Jaigīṣavya. Ô Janamejaya au jugement sûr, à l’heure du repas, cet ascète errant et clairvoyant constata son absence.

Word by Word

जैगीषव्यम्Jaigiṣavya (name), (as) the one sought/seen

मुनिवरम्the best of sages

नnot

ददर्शsaw

अथthen

देवलःDevala (name)

आहारकालेat mealtime

मतिमान्intelligent, wise

परिव्राट्wandering ascetic, mendicant

जनमेजयO Janamejaya

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

Devala

Jaigīṣavya

Janamejaya

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the ascetic ideal: a true renunciant is not bound by convenience or social expectation. Even at mealtime, the sought-after sage may be absent, reflecting disciplined independence and the non-attachment that characterizes a parivrājaka.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates to King Janamejaya that Devala went looking for the sage Jaigīṣavya but did not find him. The detail ‘at mealtime’ highlights the moment of search and suggests Jaigīṣavya’s wandering or observance that kept him away.