Shloka 9

मातङ्ग–शक्रसंवादः

Mataṅga–Śakra Dialogue on Tapas, Status, and Moral Qualities

Devanagari script

समागता महात्मानो भीष्म द्रष्टे महर्षय: । तेषां महात्मनां पूजामागतानां युधिष्ठिर:

Transliteration

samāgatā mahātmāno bhīṣma draṣṭe maharṣayaḥ | teṣāṃ mahātmanāṃ pūjām āgatānāṃ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana berkata: Para maharṣi yang berhati agung berhimpun di sana untuk menziarahi Bhīṣma. Yudhiṣṭhira, yang mengingati dharma dan adab yang wajar, pun keluar untuk menghormati dan memuja para mulia yang baru tiba itu.

Word by Word

समागताःassembled, having come together

महात्मानःgreat-souled ones

भीष्मम्Bhishma

द्रष्टुम्to see

महर्षयःgreat sages

तेषाम्of them

महात्मनाम्of the great-souled ones

पूजाम्honour, worship

आगतानाम्of those who had come

युधिष्ठिरःYudhishthira

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bhīṣma

Maharṣis (sages)

Yudhiṣṭhira

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 kingship through proper reception and honoring of spiritually eminent guests—especially sages and elders—showing that reverence (pūjā) and hospitality are ethical duties, not mere ceremony.

What is happening in the narrative?

As Bhīṣma lies awaiting instruction and discourse, great sages gather to see him. Yudhiṣṭhira steps forward to receive and honor them, setting a respectful, dharma-centered atmosphere for the teachings that follow.