Shloka 20
Dharma-pratyabhijñāna and Vara-pradāna (धर्मप्रत्यभिज्ञानम्—वरप्रदानम्)
हे & ॥ सत्यवानुवाच वनं न गतपूर्व ते दुःख: पन्थाश्न भाविनि । व्रतोपवासक्षामा च कथं पद्धयां गमिष्यसि,सत्यवानने कहा--सुन्दरि! तुम पहले कभी वनमें नहीं गयी हो। वनका रास्ता बड़ा दुःखदायक होता है, तुम व्रत और उपवास करनेके कारण दुर्बल हो रही हो। ऐसी दशामें पैदल कैसे चल सकोगी?
satyavān uvāca | vanaṃ na gatapūrvaṃ te duḥkhaḥ panthā bhaviṣyati | vratopavāsa-kṣāmā ca kathaṃ paddhyāṃ gamiṣyasi ||
Satyavān said: “You have never gone into the forest before; the path will be arduous for you. And you are weakened by vows and fasting—how will you be able to go on foot?”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights prudent care and compassionate responsibility: spiritual austerities like vows and fasting should be balanced with practical concern for bodily strength and the hardships of duty-bound travel.
In Mārkaṇḍeya’s narration, Satyavān cautions his wife (implicitly Sāvitrī) that she is inexperienced with forest travel and weakened by religious observances, questioning how she can manage the difficult journey on foot.