Shloka 36

Araṇi Lost to the Deer: Pāṇḍavas Pursue to Preserve Agnihotra (अरणी-हरण प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

इदं मे वचन श्रुत्वा भर्तुरन्वेषणे त्वर । देवतानां यथा वाच्यो न भवेयं तथा कुरु,मेरी यह बात सुनकर तू पतिकी खोज करनेमें शीघ्रता कर। ऐसी चेष्टा कर, जिससे मैं देवताओंकी दृष्टिमें अपराधी न बनूँ

Transliteration

idaṃ me vacanaṃ śrutvā bhartur anveṣaṇe tvara | devatānāṃ yathā vācyaḥ na bhaveyaṃ tathā kuru ||

Translation

Markandeya said: “Having heard these words of mine, hasten in the search for your husband. Act in such a way that, in the eyes of the gods, I do not become blameworthy.”

Word by Word

इदम्this

मेmy/of me

वचनम्speech/words

श्रुत्वाhaving heard

भर्तुःof (your/my) husband

अन्वेषणेin the search

त्वरhurry

देवतानाम्of the gods

यथाso that/as

वाच्यःto be called/termed

नnot

भवेयम्I might become

तथाthus/in that way

कुरुdo

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya (speaker)

bhartā (husband, unnamed)

devatāḥ (the gods)

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?

One should pursue one’s duty with urgency while also acting carefully so that one’s conduct remains blameless before higher moral authority (here symbolized by the gods). The verse balances speed in action with ethical accountability.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya instructs the listener to quickly continue the search for her husband, but to do so in a manner that does not make Mārkaṇḍeya appear culpable or censurable in the sight of the gods—indicating concern for both practical outcome and moral reputation.