Shloka 20

Araṇi Lost to the Deer: Pāṇḍavas Pursue to Preserve Agnihotra (अरणी-हरण प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

अन्तर्हितायां सावित्र्यां जगाम स्वपुरं नृप: । स्वराज्ये चावसदू वीर: प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन्‌

Transliteration

antarhitāyāṃ sāvitrayāṃ jagāma svapuraṃ nṛpaḥ | svarājye cāvasad vīraḥ prajā dharmeṇa pālayan ||

Translation

サーヴィトリーが視界から姿を消すと、王は自らの都へと帰還した。そこでその勇なる統治者は、正当なる王国に住まい、ダルマに則って民を守った—ただ力で治めるのではなく、正しき義務によって治めたのである。

Word by Word

• अन्तर्हितायाम्: when (she) had disappeared
• अन्तर्हितायाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तर्हित
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• सावित्र्याम्: in/with regard to Savitri
• सावित्र्याम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सावित्री
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• जगाम: went
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular

• स्वपुरम्: to his own city
• स्वपुरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वपुर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• नृपः: the king
• नृपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्वराज्ये: in his own kingdom
• स्वराज्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वराज्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अवसत्: dwelt/ruled (resided)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular

• वीरः: the hero
• वीरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रजाः: the subjects
• प्रजाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• धर्मेण: by righteousness/according to dharma
• धर्मेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• पालयन्: protecting/ruling
• Type: Verb
• Root: पालयत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Sāvitrī
• the king (nṛpa)
• his city (svapura)
• his kingdom (svarājya)
• subjects (prajā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores rājadhrama: a king’s legitimacy is expressed through dharmic protection of the people. True sovereignty (svarājya) is not mere possession of power but the ethical responsibility to uphold order and welfare.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Sāvitrī is no longer present (she has vanished from sight), the king returns to his own city and continues to live and rule in his kingdom, maintaining his subjects through righteous governance.