Shloka 9

Ajagara-vrata (The ‘Python’ Discipline): Prahrāda Questions a Wandering Sage

Devanagari script

कार्तिक्यामद्य भोक्तार: सहस्र मे द्विजोत्तमा: । तत्रायमपि भोक्ता च देयमस्मै च मे धनम्‌

Transliteration

kārtikyām adya bhoktāraḥ sahasraṃ me dvijottamāḥ | tatrāyam api bhoktā ca deyam asmai ca me dhanam ||

Translation

Bhishma berkata: “Hari ini, pada upacara Kārtikī, seribu brahmana utama akan kujamui. Biarlah orang ini juga ikut duduk sebagai tamu jamuan itu; dan dari hartaku sendiri, hendaklah diberikan pula sedekah kepadanya.”

Word by Word

कार्तिक्याम्on (the day of) Kārtikī / in Kārtika (time)

अद्यtoday

भोक्तारःeaters/guests (those who will eat)

सहस्रम्a thousand

मेof me / my

द्विजोत्तमाःbest of the twice-born (excellent Brahmins)

तत्रthere

अयम्this (person)

अपिalso/even

भोक्ताan eater/guest

चand

देयम्to be given / should be given

अस्मैto him

चand

मेmy / of me

धनम्wealth

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

dvijottamāḥ (eminent brāhmaṇas)

Kārtikī (religious observance/day)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic generosity: on an auspicious occasion, one should not only perform formal charity (feeding worthy recipients) but also include an additional person compassionately and provide him a material gift from one’s own resources.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma, speaking as an authority on dharma, declares that he is hosting a large ceremonial feeding of brāhmaṇas on the Kārtikī day and instructs that a particular person present should also be seated among the diners and be given wealth as a donation.