Shloka 56
Ajñātavāsa-saṅkalpaḥ — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Resolve and Dhaumya’s Exempla on Concealment
मार्कण्डेयजी कहते हैं--युधिष्ठिर! तदनन्तर “तथास्तु” कहकर सूर्यपुत्र धर्मराज यमने सत्यवानका बन्धन खोल दिया और प्रसन्नचित्त होकर सावित्रीसे इस प्रकार कहा-- एष भटद्रे मया मुक्तो भर्ता ते कुलनन्दिनि । (तोषितो<हं त्वया साध्थवि वाक्यैर्थर्मार्थसंहितै: ।) अरोगस्तव नेयश्न सिद्धार्थ: स भविष्यति,// 'भद्रे! यह ले, मैंने तेरे पतिको छोड़ दिया। कुलनन्दिनी! तूने अपने धर्मार्थियुक्त वचनोंद्वारा मुझे पूर्ण संतुष्ट कर दिया है। साध्वी! यह सत्यवान् नीरोग, सफल-मनोरथ तथा तेरे द्वारा ले जानेयोग्य हो गया
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca— yudhiṣṭhira! tadanantaram “tathāstu” iti uktvā sūryaputraḥ dharmarājaḥ yamaḥ satyavataḥ bandhanaṃ mocayām āsa, prasannacitto bhūtvā sāvitryai ca evam uvāca— eṣa bhadre mayā mukto bhartā te kulanandini; toṣito ’haṃ tvayā sādhvi vākyair dharmārthasaṃhitaiḥ; arogaḥ tava neyaś ca siddhārthaḥ sa bhaviṣyati.
Mārkaṇḍeya said: “Yudhiṣṭhira, then, saying ‘So be it,’ Yama—the son of the Sun and lord of Dharma—released Satyavān from his bonds. With a pleased heart he addressed Sāvitrī: ‘Noble lady, your husband has been set free by me. O delight of your lineage, I am fully satisfied by your words, which were joined to dharma and right purpose. Satyavān will be free from illness, his aims fulfilled, and he will be fit for you to lead back.’”
यम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ethically grounded speech (dharma joined with right purpose) has transformative power: even Yama, the judge of righteousness, is moved by Sāvitrī’s principled reasoning and steadfast virtue, and grants restoration of life, health, and fulfilled aims.
After Sāvitrī’s persuasive, dharma-aligned dialogue, Yama consents (“tathāstu”), loosens Satyavān’s bonds, and declares him released, healthy, and ready to be led back by Sāvitrī—marking the reversal of death through moral force and devotion.