Shloka 7

Devanagari script

ततः स राजा मतिमान्‌ मत्वा55त्मानं वयोडथधिकम्‌ | मन्त्रयामास सचिवेर्धर्मजैश्व पुरोहितैः

Transliteration

tataḥ sa rājā matimān matvā ātmānaṃ vayodhikam | mantrayāmāsa sacivair dharmajñaiś ca purohitaiḥ ||

Translation

Alors ce roi avisé, se jugeant désormais avancé en âge, prit conseil auprès de ses ministres —hommes versés dans le dharma— et de ses prêtres de maison, afin de choisir une voie conforme à la droiture et à une gouvernance prudente.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: Avyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from/then')

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• मतिमान्: wise/intelligent
• मतिमान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मतिमत्
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• मत्वा: having considered
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा), 'having thought/considered'

• आत्मानम्: himself
• आत्मानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, accusative, singular

• वयोऽथ: age, and then
• वयोऽथ: Karma
• Type: Noun+Indeclinable
• Root: वयस् + अथ
• Form: वयस्: Neuter, accusative, singular; अथ: Avyaya

• अधिकम्: greater/advanced
• अधिकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक
• Form: Neuter, accusative, singular (used predicatively/comparatively)

• मन्त्रयामास: consulted/took counsel
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्त्रय्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, singular, parasmaipada

• सचिवैः: with ministers
• सचिवैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सचिव
• Form: Masculine, instrumental, plural

• धर्मजैः: righteous/virtuous
• धर्मजैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मज
• Form: Masculine, instrumental, plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: Avyaya (conjunction)

• पुरोहितैः: with priests/chaplains
• पुरोहितैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरोहित
• Form: Masculine, instrumental, plural

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Markandeya
• the king (unnamed in this verse)
• ministers (saciva)
• purohitas (royal priests)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should recognize life’s stages and, when age advances, act with humility and prudence by seeking guidance from dharma-knowing counselors and learned priests, so that decisions remain aligned with righteousness rather than personal impulse.

What is happening in the narrative?

Markandeya narrates that the king, realizing he is now old, begins deliberations and consults his ministers and purohitas to decide the proper next steps—implying a transition or major decision requiring dharmic counsel.