Shloka 12

Sāvitrī-Upākhyāna: Dyumatsena’s Restoration and the Return to Kāmyaka

Conclusion

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तो लक्ष्मणो भ्रात्रा गुरुवाक्यहिते रत: । प्रतस्थे रुचिरं गृह्मु समार्गणगुणं धनु:

Transliteration

ity ukto lakṣmaṇo bhrātrā guruvākyahite rataḥ | pratasthē ruciraṁ gṛhmu samārgaṇaguṇaṁ dhanuḥ ||

Translation

Thus addressed by his brother, Lakṣmaṇa—devoted to what was beneficial and in accord with the counsel of elders—set out at once, taking up a splendid bow endowed with the qualities needed for battle. The verse highlights disciplined obedience and the ethical impulse to act under rightful guidance rather than mere impulse.

Word by Word

इतिthus

उक्तःhaving been spoken to / addressed

लक्ष्मणःLakshmana

भ्रात्राby (his) brother

गुरु-वाक्य-हितेin what is beneficial as the teacher’s word (i.e., in the welfare/interest of the guru’s command)

रतःengaged, devoted

प्रतस्थेset out, departed

रुचिरम्beautiful, splendid

गृह्यhaving taken

समार्गण-गुणम्having the quality/virtue of battle (fit for combat)

धनुःbow

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya (speaker)

Lakṣmaṇa

Brother (bhrātṛ)

Bow (dhanuḥ)

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 commends acting under proper guidance: Lakṣmaṇa is portrayed as devoted to what is beneficial and aligned with the counsel of elders (guru-vākya), suggesting that disciplined obedience and welfare-oriented intent should govern decisive action.

What is happening in the narrative?

After being instructed by his brother, Lakṣmaṇa promptly departs, taking up a fine bow suited for combat—signaling immediate readiness to carry out a duty under rightful direction.