Shloka 31
Araṇi Lost to the Deer: Pāṇḍavas Pursue to Preserve Agnihotra (अरणी-हरण प्रसङ्गः)
यौवनस्थां तु तां दृष्टवा स्वां सुतां देवरूपिणीम् । अयाच्यमानां स वरैर्नपतिर्दु:खितो5भवत्,अपनी देवस्वरूपिणी पुत्रीको युवावस्थामें प्रविष्ट हुई देख और अभीतक इसके लिये किसी वरने याचना नहीं की, यह सोचकर मद्रनरेशको बड़ा दुःख हुआ
yauvanasthāṃ tu tāṃ dṛṣṭvā svāṃ sutāṃ devarūpiṇīm | ayācyamānāṃ sa varair napatir duḥkhito 'bhavat ||
マールカンデーヤは語った。自らの娘が、神にも比すべき輝きを帯びて青春の盛りに達したというのに、なお誰ひとりとして求婚に来ぬのを見て、王は深い憂いに沈んだ。そこには、娘にふさわしい縁と庇護を得させねばならぬ父の責めと、その阻まれる痛みが示されている。
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a ruler-father’s dharma: ensuring a daughter’s welfare through a suitable marriage alliance. When social recognition (suitors seeking her) does not arise even for a worthy, beautiful daughter, it becomes a source of grief and moral anxiety about unfulfilled responsibility.
Mārkaṇḍeya narrates that the king sees his daughter has reached youth and is exceptionally beautiful, yet no suitor has come to ask for her hand. This unexpected lack of proposals makes the king deeply sorrowful.