Shloka 51

Sarasvatī–Tārkṣya Saṃvāda: Agnihotra-vidhi, Dāna-phala, and Mokṣa-prasaṅga (सरस्वती–तार्क्ष्यसंवादः)

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त: प्रत्युवाच मार्कण्डेयो महातपा: । क्षणं कुरुध्वं विपुलमाख्यातव्यं भविष्यति,उनके ऐसा कहनेपर महातपस्वी मार्कण्डेय मुनिने कहा--'पाण्डवो! तुम सब लोग क्षणभरके लिये चुप हो जाओ; क्योंकि मुझे तुमसे बहुत कुछ कहना है”

Transliteration

evam uktaḥ pratyuvāca mārkaṇḍeyo mahātapāḥ | kṣaṇaṁ kurudhvaṁ vipulam ākhyātavyaṁ bhaviṣyati ||

Translation

Thus addressed, the great ascetic Mārkaṇḍeya replied: “Pāṇḍavas, be silent for a moment; for much—at length—must I narrate to you.”

Word by Word

एवम्thus

उक्तःhaving been addressed/said to

प्रत्युवाचreplied

मार्कण्डेयःMarkandeya

महातपाःthe great ascetic

क्षणम्for a moment

कुरुध्वम्do (you all)! / be (you all)!

विपुलम्much, extensive

आख्यातव्यम्is to be narrated/told

भविष्यतिwill be

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Mārkaṇḍeya

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds the discipline of speech and the ethical posture of receptivity: before profound counsel can be given, the listener must cultivate silence, attention, and restraint—qualities central to dharma and to learning from a sage.

What is happening in the narrative?

After being addressed, the sage Mārkaṇḍeya responds and asks for a brief silence, indicating he is about to deliver an extended and significant account. It functions as a narrative hinge, preparing the audience for a longer teaching or story.