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Shloka 1

यक्षोपाख्यान-प्रवेशः

Entry into the Yakṣa-Lake Episode

Devanagari script

(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका ३ “लोक मिलाकर कुल ४१३ “लोक हैं) # “&+ (9) #:.. #:.2 चतुर्न॑वर्त्याधेकद्विशततमो< ध्याय: सावित्रीका सत्यवान॒के साथ विवाह करनेका दृढ़ निश्चय मार्कण्डेय उवाच अथ मद्राधिपो राजा नारदेन समागत: । उपविष्ट: सभामध्ये कथायोगेन भारत,मार्कण्डेयजी कहते हैं--भरतनन्दन युधिष्ठिर! एक दिन मद्रराज अश्वपति अपनी सभामें बैठे हुए देवर्षि नारदजीके साथ मिलकर बातें कर रहे थे

Transliteration

Mārkaṇḍeya uvāca: atha madrādhipo rājā nāradena samāgataḥ | upaviṣṭaḥ sabhāmadhye kathāyogena bhārata ||

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: “Then the king, lord of Madra, having met with Nārada, sat in the midst of his royal assembly, O Bhārata, engaged in conversation.” The verse sets a calm, courtly frame for the Savitrī–Satyavān narrative, emphasizing the role of wise counsel (Nārada) and reflective dialogue in guiding righteous decisions.

Word by Word

मार्कण्डेयःMarkandeya

उवाचsaid

अथthen

मद्राधिपःthe ruler of Madra

राजाking

नारदेनwith Narada / by Narada

समागतःmet / come together (having met)

उपविष्टःseated

सभामध्येin the middle of the assembly

कथायोगेनby means of conversation / in the course of talk

भारतO Bharata (descendant of Bharata)

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

Madrādhipa (king of Madra, i.e., Aśvapati in the Savitrī episode context)

Nārada

Bhārata (Yudhiṣṭhira as addressee)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

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 highlights that righteous action in a king’s life is often preceded by thoughtful dialogue and guidance from sages; ethical clarity is cultivated through counsel, reflection, and measured speech in the public sphere.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya begins the Savitrī-related account by describing the Madra king seated in his court after meeting the sage Nārada, with the scene set as a conversation that will lead into the forthcoming story.