Shloka 9

Nārada–Vāyu–Śalmali Upākhyāna: Enmity with the Strong and the Primacy of Buddhi (नारद-वायु-शल्मलि उपाख्यानम्)

Devanagari script

ऋषिर्दष्टवा नृपं तत्र जगहें सुभृशं तदा । कर्ता पापस्य महतो भ्रूणहा किमिहागत:

Transliteration

ṛṣir dṛṣṭvā nṛpaṃ tatra jagarhe subhṛśaṃ tadā | kartā pāpasya mahato bhrūṇahā kim ihāgataḥ ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ସେଠାରେ ରାଜାକୁ ଦେଖି ଋଷି ସେହିକ୍ଷଣେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ କଠୋର ଭାବେ ଗର୍ହଣ କଲେ—“ତୁ ମହାପାପର କର୍ତ୍ତା, ଭ୍ରୂଣହନ୍ତା; ଏଠାକୁ କାହିଁକି ଆସିଛୁ? ଆମ ସହିତ ତୋର କ’ଣ କାମ? କେବେ ମୋତେ ସ୍ପର୍ଶ କରନି। ଯା—ଯା! ତୋର ଏଠାରେ ରହିବା ଆମେ ମାନିନାହୁଁ।”

Word by Word

• ऋषिः: the sage
• ऋषिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral), Non-finite

• नृपम्: the king
• नृपम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• जगर्हे: censured/reproached
• Type: Verb
• Root: गर्ह्
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सुभृशम्: exceedingly, greatly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सुभृशम्

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• कर्ता: doer, perpetrator
• कर्ता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पापस्य: of sin
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• महतः: great
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• भ्रूणहा: slayer of an embryo (foetus-killer)
• भ्रूणहा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रूणहन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• किम्: what/why
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

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

• आगतः: come, arrived
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle used actively), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• ṛṣi (sage)
• nṛpa (king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Grave wrongdoing (especially acts treated as brahmahatyā-like, such as bhrūṇa-hatyā) brings social and ritual exclusion; moral accountability applies even to kings, and sages may enforce ethical boundaries by refusing contact.

What is happening in the narrative?

A king approaches a sage (apparently seeking contact or help), but the sage, recognizing him as guilty of a severe sin, condemns him and orders him to leave, refusing even physical touch.