Shloka 9

Gratitude, Discernment, and the Escalation of Power (Śvā–Dvipī–Vyāghra–Nāga–Siṃha–Śarabha Itihāsa)

Devanagari script

भक्तो<नुरक्त: सततमुपवासकृशोडबल: । फलमूलोदकाहार: शान्त: शिष्टाकृतिर्यथा,वह उन महामुनिका भक्त और उनमें अनुरक्त था; उपवास करनेके कारण दुर्बल एवं निर्बल हो गया था। वह भी फल-मूल और जलका आहार करके रहता, मनको वशमें रखता और साधु-पुरुषोंके समान जीवन बिताता था

Transliteration

bhakto 'nuraktaḥ satatam upavāsa-kṛśo 'balāḥ | phala-mūlodakāhāraḥ śāntaḥ śiṣṭākṛtir yathā ||

Translation

بھیشم نے کہا—وہ اس مہامنی کا عقیدت مند تھا اور ہمیشہ وفاداری کے ساتھ اس سے وابستہ رہتا تھا۔ روزوں کی وجہ سے وہ دبلا، کمزور اور ناتواں ہو گیا تھا۔ وہ صرف پھل، جڑیں اور پانی پر گزارا کرتا، اپنے دل و دماغ کو قابو میں رکھتا، پُرسکون رہتا اور نیک لوگوں کی طرح باوقار طریقے سے زندگی بسر کرتا تھا۔

Word by Word

भक्तःdevoted

अनुरक्तःattached, devotedly devoted

सततम्always, constantly

उपवासकृशःemaciated due to fasting

उद्बलःweak, feeble

फलमूलोदकाहारःone whose food is fruits, roots, and water

शान्तःcalm, self-controlled

शिष्टाकृतिःhaving the demeanor of the cultured (a gentlemanly bearing)

यथाas, like

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True devotion is shown through disciplined living: austerity (fasting), simplicity of diet, and inner restraint that expresses itself as calmness and cultured conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes a devotee/ascetic figure whose constant devotion leads him to sustained fasting and a minimal diet of fruits, roots, and water; despite physical weakness, he maintains peace of mind and exemplary behavior.