Shloka 4

Skanda–Svāhā-saṃvāda; Gaṇa-vyutpatti and Śvetaparvata-vaibhava

Chapter 220

Devanagari script

शंयोरप्रतिमा भार्या सत्या सत्याथ धर्मजा । अग्निस्तस्य सुतो दीप्तस्तिस््र: कन्याश्न सुव्रता:,शंयुकी पत्नीका नाम था सत्या। वह धर्मकी पुत्री थी। उसके रूप और गुणोंकी कहीं तुलना नहीं थी। वह सदा सत्यके पालनमें तत्पर रहती थी। उसके गर्भसे शंयुके एक अग्निस्वरूप पुत्र तथा उत्तम व्रतका पालन करनेवाली तीन कन्याएँ हुईं

Transliteration

Śaṁyor apratimā bhāryā Satyā satyātha dharmajā | Agnis tasya suto dīptas tisraḥ kanyāś ca suvratāḥ ||

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya dijo: Śaṃyu tuvo una esposa incomparable llamada Satyā—veraz y nacida de Dharma. De ella, Śaṃyu engendró un hijo radiante, Agni, y también tres hijas firmes en votos y conducta excelsos.

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'śaṁyoḥ (śaṁyuḥ)', 'definition': 'of Śaṁyu

• a person named Śaṁyu'}, {'term': 'apratimā', 'definition': 'without equal

• incomparable'}, {'term': 'bhāryā', 'definition': 'wife'}, {'term': 'Satyā', 'definition': 'Satyā (proper name)

• also ‘truthful’'}, {'term': 'satyā', 'definition': 'truthful

• devoted to truth'}, {'term': 'atha', 'definition': 'and then

• moreover'}, {'term': 'dharmajā', 'definition': 'born of Dharma

• daughter of Dharma'}, {'term': 'Agniḥ', 'definition': 'Agni (fire

• here, the son named Agni'}, {'term': 'tasya', 'definition': 'his

• of him (Śaṁyu’s)'}, {'term': 'sutaḥ', 'definition': 'son'}, {'term': 'dīptaḥ', 'definition': 'bright, radiant, blazing'}, {'term': 'tisraḥ', 'definition': 'three (feminine)'}, {'term': 'kanyāḥ', 'definition': 'daughters

• maidens'}, {'term': 'ca', 'definition': 'and'}, {'term': 'suvratāḥ', 'definition': 'of good vows

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Śaṁyu
• Satyā
• Dharma
• Agni
• three daughters (unnamed)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse upholds satya (truthfulness) and dharma as defining virtues: Satyā is praised as incomparable because she embodies truth and is linked to Dharma itself, suggesting that ethical integrity is the true source of excellence and auspicious lineage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya describes Śaṁyu’s family: his exceptional wife Satyā (born of Dharma), their radiant son named Agni, and three daughters noted for their disciplined vows and virtuous conduct.