Shloka 9

Devanagari script

शीतलानि च तोयानि क्वचिदुष्णानि भारत । आसनानि विचित्राणि शयनप्रवराणि च,भरतनन्दन! कहीं शीतल जल थे तो कहीं उष्ण, उन महलोंमें विचित्र आसन और उत्तमोत्तम शय्याएँ बिछी हुई थीं

Transliteration

śītalāni ca toyāni kvacid uṣṇāni bhārata | āsanāni vicitrāṇi śayanapravarāṇi ca ||

Translation

โอ ภารตะ! บางแห่งมีน้ำเย็น บางแห่งมีน้ำอุ่น; และภายในเรือนอันโอ่อ่านั้นมีที่นั่งหลากหลายกับแท่นบรรทมอันประณีตยิ่งจัดไว้พร้อม.

Word by Word

शीतलानिcool

चand

तोयानिwaters

क्वचित्somewhere/at some places

उष्णानिhot/warm

भारतO Bharata

आसनानिseats

विचित्राणिvariegated/remarkable

शयनप्रवराणिexcellent beds/couches

चand

भरतनन्दनO descendant/son of Bharata

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Bhārata (Yudhiṣṭhira as addressee)

cool water

warm water

seats (āsana)

excellent beds/couches (śayana)

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 highlights the ideal of well-ordered provision and hospitality—comforts arranged thoughtfully for guests and residents. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame, such external refinement is meaningful when aligned with dharma; luxury alone is not virtue, but it can reflect responsible stewardship and care.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is describing a setting of royal or palatial accommodation: different kinds of water (cool and warm) are available, and the interiors are furnished with ornate seats and excellent beds. The description functions as a vivid scene-setting detail within his discourse to Yudhiṣṭhira.