Shloka 9
Sāvitrī–Satyavān Vivāha: Kanyāpradāna and Āśrama-Śīla (सावित्री-सत्यवान्विवाहः)
Devanagari script
मारीचश्चिन्तयामास विशिष्टान्मरणं वरम्
Transliteration
mārīcaś cintayāmāsa viśiṣṭān maraṇaṁ varam
Translation
Mārīca reflexionó que, para los nobles y distinguidos, la muerte es preferible: mejor un fin honroso que una vida sostenida por la deshonra o la injusticia.
Word by Word
मारीचःMarīca (proper name)
मारीचः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमारीच
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
चिन्तयामासthought/pondered
चिन्तयामास:
TypeVerb
Rootचिन्त्
FormPeriphrastic Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
विशिष्टात्than the distinguished/better (one)
विशिष्टात्:
Apadana
TypeAdjective
Rootविशिष्ट
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
मरणम्death
मरणम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमरण
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
वरम्better/preferable
वरम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootवर
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Characters & Entities
M
MārīcaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical ideal: for those who value dharma and honor, an honorable death can be preferable to living through moral compromise, humiliation, or ignoble conduct.
Markaṇḍeya reports Mārīca’s inner deliberation: he weighs his situation and concludes that, for a noble person, choosing death may be the better course than continuing under dishonor.