Shloka 34

Sāvitrī’s Trirātra-Vrata and Departure with Satyavān (सावित्रीव्रतनिश्चयः सहगमनं च)

Devanagari script

द्रक्ष्यन्त्यार्यस्थ धन्‍्या ये कुशलाजशमीदलै: । अभिषिक्तस्य वदनं सोम॑ शान्तघनं यथा,“जो लोग कुश, लाजा और शमीपत्र आदिके द्वारा राज्यपर अभिषिक्त हुए आप आर्यके मेघोंके आवरणसे रहित शरत्कालीन चन्द्रमाके समान मनोहर मुखका दर्शन करेंगे, वे धन्य हैं!

Transliteration

drakṣyanty āryastha dhanyā ye kuśalājāśamīdalaiḥ | abhiṣiktasya vadanaṃ somaśāntaghanaṃ yathā ||

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: Blessed indeed are those who will behold your face at the time of your royal consecration—when you are anointed with sacred kuśa grass, parched grain (lājā), and śamī leaves—your countenance lovely like the autumnal moon, clear of cloud-cover and serene in its radiance. The verse praises the auspiciousness of righteous kingship and the merit of witnessing a dharmic coronation.

Word by Word

द्रक्ष्यन्तिwill see

आर्यस्यof the noble one (you)

धन्याःblessed/fortunate

येwho

कुशलाजशमीदलैःwith kusa-grass, parched grain (lājā), and śamī-leaves

अभिषिक्तस्यof the consecrated/anointed (king)

वदनम्face

सोमम्the moon

शान्तघनम्with clouds stilled/cleared (cloudless)

यथाas/like

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

Soma (the Moon)

kuśa grass

lājā (parched grain)

śamī leaves

royal consecration (abhiṣeka)

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?

The verse teaches that righteous kingship and its consecration (abhiṣeka) are sacred and auspicious; even witnessing such a dharmic enthronement is considered a blessing, because it signifies the restoration of order and protection under Dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya speaks in praise and benediction, describing how fortunate people will be to see the addressee’s face at the moment of royal anointing, using ritual items (kuśa, lājā, śamī leaves) and comparing the serene beauty of that face to the clear autumn moon.