Shloka 7

Adhiratha-Rādhā Discover the Casket; Vasuṣeṇa (Karṇa) is Adopted and Formed

Devanagari script

उवाच च महात्मानं काकुत्स्थं दैन्यमास्थित: । प्रतीच्छ देवीं सद्‌वृत्तां महात्मज्जानकीमिति,का. ! 7 ॥/..:: गन्य् रब 407 ) 2:>ननन्ककन हः रे 497, 7 कर्॥/त 8) 8 [47 | ता ए पर ।(] वे ककुत्स्थकुलभूषण महात्मा श्रीरामचन्द्रजीसे दीनतापूर्वक बोले--“महात्मन्‌! सदाचारसे सुशोभित जनककिशोरी महारानी सीताको ग्रहण कीजिये”

Transliteration

uvāca ca mahātmānaṃ kākutsthaṃ dainyam āsthitaḥ | pratīccha devīṃ sadvṛttāṃ mahātma jānakiṃ iti || 7 ||

Translation

Markandeya said: Having fallen into distress, he addressed the noble scion of Kakutstha (Rama): “O great-souled one, accept Janaki—this queenly lady of impeccable conduct.” The line underscores the ethical ideal that a virtuous, devoted spouse is to be honored and received with due regard, even amid hardship.

Word by Word

उवाचsaid/spoke

चand

महात्मानम्the great-souled one

काकुत्स्थम्Kakutstha (Rama)

दैन्यम्wretchedness, dejection

आस्थितःhaving assumed/being in (a state of)

प्रतीच्छaccept, receive

देवीम्the lady, goddess-like woman

सद्वृत्ताम्of good conduct/virtuous

महात्मन्O great-souled one

जानकीम्Janaki (Sita)

इतिthus (quotative)

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

Kākutstha (Śrī Rāma)

Jānakī (Sītā)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

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 highlights dharmic regard for a virtuous spouse: noble conduct (sad-vṛtta) warrants honor and acceptance, and ethical relationships are upheld even when one is afflicted by distress.

What is happening in the narrative?

Within Mārkaṇḍeya’s narration of the Rāma-story in the Vana Parva, a distressed speaker addresses Rāma (Kākutstha) and urges him to accept Janakī (Sītā), praising her as a queenly woman of exemplary conduct.