Shloka 8

Sāvitrī’s Report and Nārada’s Prognosis (सावित्र्याख्यान—सत्यवान्-गुणवर्णनं तथा अल्पायुषः पूर्वसूचना)

Devanagari script

प्राप्तकालं च ते सर्वे मेनिरे मन्त्रिसत्तमा:

Transliteration

prāptakālaṃ ca te sarve menire mantrisattamāḥ |

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: All those foremost ministers judged the king’s proposal to be timely and fitting, and they approved it. Thereafter Rāma is portrayed as the ideal prince—radiant in form, mighty in strength, disciplined in self-control, learned in dharma, and irresistible even to enemies. His valor in battle was said to be no less than Indra’s, yet he remained a protector of the good and a restrainer of the wicked. Seeing such a son—who increased Kauśalyā’s joy—King Daśaratha’s heart was filled with delight again and again.

Word by Word

• प्राप्तकालम्: timely (proposal/time-appropriate matter)
• प्राप्तकालम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राप्तकाल (प्राप्त + काल)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• ते: they/those
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• मेनिरे: thought/considered/approved
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (मन्यते)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural, Ātmanepada

• मन्त्रिसत्तमाः: the best of ministers
• मन्त्रिसत्तमाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिसत्तम (मन्त्रिन् + सत्तम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• ministers (mantrisattamāḥ)
• Rāma (Śrī Rāmacandra)
• Indra
• Bṛhaspati
• Daśaratha
• Kauśalyā
• Kuru-nandana (address to a Kuru prince, i.e., Yudhiṣṭhira)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage upholds the model of righteous leadership: wise counsel recognizes what is timely, and the ideal ruler combines strength with restraint, learning with humility, and power with protection of the virtuous—dharma expressed through character and governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya narrates that the king’s ministers approve a timely proposal, and then he elaborates Rāma’s exemplary qualities—physical majesty, martial prowess, wisdom, and ethical discipline—showing why Daśaratha rejoices in his son who brings joy to Kauśalyā and wins the affection of the people.