Shloka 55

Ajñātavāsa-saṅkalpaḥ — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Resolve and Dhaumya’s Exempla on Concealment

Devanagari script

मार्कण्डेय उदाच तथेत्युक्त्वा तु तं पाश मुक्त्वा वैवस्वतो यम: । धर्मराज: प्रह्ृष्टात्मा सावित्रीमिदमब्रवीत्‌

Transliteration

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tathety uktvā tu taṃ pāśaṃ muktvā vaivasvato yamaḥ | dharmarājaḥ prahṛṣṭātmā sāvitrīm idam abravīt ||

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: Having said, “So be it,” Vaivasvata Yama released him from the noose. Then Dharmarāja Yama, his heart filled with gladness, spoke these words to Sāvitrī.

Word by Word

मार्कण्डेयःMarkandeya (the sage)

उवाचsaid

तथाso; thus

इतिthus (quotative)

उक्त्वाhaving said

तुbut; then

तम्him

पाशम्noose

मुक्त्वाhaving released; having let go

वैवस्वतःVaivasvata (son of Vivasvat; Yama)

यमःYama

धर्मराजःking of dharma (Yama)

प्रहृष्टात्माwhose spirit was delighted; joyful-minded

सावित्रीम्Savitri

इदम्this

अब्रवीत्said; spoke

Speaker

यम उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

Yama (Vaivasvata, Dharmarāja)

Sāvitrī

pāśa (Yama’s noose)

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?

Dharma is not mere punishment but righteous order that can include mercy. Sāvitrī’s unwavering fidelity, truth, and moral clarity lead even Dharmarāja (Yama) to act graciously—showing that virtue has transformative power within the framework of justice.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Mārkaṇḍeya’s telling of the Sāvitrī-upākhyāna, Yama (Vaivasvata) releases the bound soul from his noose, pleased by Sāvitrī’s conduct. After freeing him, Yama—called Dharmarāja—addresses Sāvitrī, preparing to grant or affirm boons in response to her righteousness.