Shloka 293
यक्षोपाख्यान-प्रवेशः
Entry into the Yakṣa-Lake Episode
इस प्रकार श्रीमहाभारत वनपर्वके अन्तर्गत पतिव्रतामाहात्म्यपर्वमें सावित्री- उपाख्यानविषयक दो सौ तिरानबेवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ
iti prakāraṁ śrīmahābhārata-vanaparvake antargataṁ pativratāmāhātmyaparvaṇi sāvitrī-upākhyānaviṣayakaḥ dviśatatirānavevāṁ adhyāyaḥ pūrṇaḥ
Thus ends the two hundred and ninety-third chapter of the Mahābhārata’s Vana Parva, within the section on the greatness of devoted wives (Pativratā-māhātmya), specifically concerning the Savitrī episode. The colophon signals the completion of this unit, underscoring the ethical ideal of steadfast marital fidelity and dharma-centered resolve celebrated through Savitrī’s narrative.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The colophon highlights the didactic purpose of the Sāvitrī narrative within the Pativratā-māhātmya: steadfast commitment to dharma and unwavering marital fidelity are presented as powerful ethical ideals worthy of praise and remembrance.
This is a concluding colophon, not a spoken verse of the story proper: it announces that the chapter concerning the Sāvitrī episode—within the glorification of devoted wives in the Vana Parva—has been completed.