Shloka 9

Devanagari script

भवद्धिः सदृशा: सर्वे कपा: किमिह वर्तते । सर्वे वेदविद: प्राज्ञा: सर्वे च क्रतुयाजिन:

Transliteration

bhavadbhiḥ sadṛśāḥ sarve kapāḥ kim iha vartate | sarve vedavidaḥ prājñāḥ sarve ca kratuyājinaḥ ||

Translation

Bhishma berkata: “(Utusan itu berkata:) ‘Wahai para Brahmana! Semua Kapa setara dengan kalian pada martabatnya. Maka apakah yang sedang berlaku di sini sehingga timbul pertentangan terhadap mereka? Mereka semua mengetahui Veda, bijaksana, dan semuanya pelaksana upacara korban.’”

Word by Word

• भवद्भिः: by you (all)
• भवद्भिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सदृशाः: similar
• सदृशाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कपाः: the Kapas (a group/people named Kapa)
• कपाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुं, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• वर्तते: is happening/occurs
• वर्तते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथम, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वेदविदः: knowers of the Veda
• वेदविदः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• प्राज्ञाः: wise
• प्राज्ञाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• क्रतुयाजिनः: performers of sacrifices (kratu-yajñas)
• क्रतुयाजिनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतुयाजिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Kapas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma frames an ethical challenge: if a group is truly virtuous—Veda-knowing, wise, and committed to sacrificial duty—then hostility toward them demands strong justification. The verse highlights that dharma is assessed by conduct and learning, not merely by labels or group identity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma addresses his listener and questions why opposition is being directed at the Kapas. He argues that they possess the marks of righteous life—Vedic knowledge, wisdom, and performance of sacrifices—thereby casting doubt on the legitimacy of the conflict against them.