Shloka 10

Sāvitrī–Satyavān Vivāha: Kanyāpradāna and Āśrama-Śīla (सावित्री-सत्यवान्विवाहः)

Devanagari script

ततस्तं प्रत्युवाचाथ मारीचो रक्षसां वरम्‌

Transliteration

tatastam pratyuvācātha mārīco rakṣasāṁ varam

Translation

ثم أجابه ماريتش—مخاطبًا سيدَ الرّاكشاسا وأعلاهم—مواصِلًا هذا الحوار على أنه اختيارٌ مقصود لا اندفاعٌ عابر.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अव्यय (पञ्चमी-अर्थे: 'from/thereupon')

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रत्युवाच: replied (to)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अथ: then, now
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ
• Form: अव्यय

• मारीचः: Mārīca
• मारीचः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारीच
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रक्षसाम्: of the rākṣasas (demons)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• वरम्: the best, foremost
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārīca
• a foremost rākṣasa (rakṣasāṁ vara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical weight of speech in decision-making: a reply is not merely a reaction but a moment where intention, counsel, and responsibility shape what follows.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Markandeya’s narration, Mārīca responds to another figure described as the foremost among rākṣasas, marking a turn in the dialogue that sets up subsequent actions.