Shloka 55
Ajñātavāsa-saṅkalpaḥ — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Resolve and Dhaumya’s Exempla on Concealment
मार्कण्डेय उदाच तथेत्युक्त्वा तु तं पाश मुक्त्वा वैवस्वतो यम: । धर्मराज: प्रह्ृष्टात्मा सावित्रीमिदमब्रवीत्
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tathety uktvā tu taṃ pāśaṃ muktvā vaivasvato yamaḥ | dharmarājaḥ prahṛṣṭātmā sāvitrīm idam abravīt ||
マーリカンデーヤは語った。「『そのとおりに』と言うや、ヴァイヴァスヴァタ・ヤマは縄の輪を解き、彼を放った。ついで法王ヤマは、喜びに満ちた心で、サーヴィトリーに次の言葉を告げた。」
यम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is not mere punishment but righteous order that can include mercy. Sāvitrī’s unwavering fidelity, truth, and moral clarity lead even Dharmarāja (Yama) to act graciously—showing that virtue has transformative power within the framework of justice.
In Mārkaṇḍeya’s telling of the Sāvitrī-upākhyāna, Yama (Vaivasvata) releases the bound soul from his noose, pleased by Sāvitrī’s conduct. After freeing him, Yama—called Dharmarāja—addresses Sāvitrī, preparing to grant or affirm boons in response to her righteousness.