Shloka 40

Sāvitrī–Satyavān Vivāha: Kanyāpradāna and Āśrama-Śīla (सावित्री-सत्यवान्विवाहः)

Devanagari script

कथं हि पीत्वा माध्वीक॑ पीत्वा च मधुमाधवीम्‌ | लोभ॑ सौवीरके कुर्यानज्नारी काचिदिति स्मरेत्‌,“जो फूलोंके रससे बने हुए मधुर पेय तथा मधुमक्षिकाओंद्वारा तैयार किया हुआ मधु पी चुकी हो, ऐसी कोई भी नारी काँजीके रसका लोभ कैसे कर सकती है?”

Transliteration

kathaṁ hi pītvā mādhvīkaṁ pītvā ca madhumādhavīm | lobhaṁ sauvīrake kuryād ajñārī kācid iti smaret ||

Translation

マーラカンデーヤは言った。「花から醸した甘き酒を飲み、蜂の作る蜜を味わった女が、どうして酸い粥（カーンジカ）を欲するだろうか。覚えておけ—上なる味を知ったなら、心は卑しきものへの渇望に沈んではならぬ。」

Word by Word

कथम्how?

हिindeed/for

पीत्वाhaving drunk

माध्वीकम्mead / a sweet drink (from flowers)

पीत्वाhaving drunk

चand

मधुhoney

माधवीम्a honey(-drink)/madhavi (sweet liquor); also name of a creeper

लोभम्desire/greed

सौवीरकेin souvīraka (a sour gruel/fermented drink, kāñjī)

कुर्यात्would make / would do

अज्ञानीan ignorant (woman)

काचित्some (any) woman

इतिthus (quotative)

स्मरेत्would remember / should think

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

mādhvīka (flower-liquor)

madhu (honey)

madhumādhavī (honey-drink)

sauvīraka/kāñjika (sour gruel/fermented drink)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse uses a taste-based metaphor: one who has experienced something refined and wholesome should not relapse into craving what is inferior. Ethically, it points to cultivating discernment and self-restraint—choosing higher goods over lower appetites.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya delivers a pointed comparison in the course of his instruction: after tasting sweet flower-liquor and honey, it would be absurd to long for sour gruel. The statement functions as a moral illustration meant to redirect desire and judgment.