Shloka 10

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

Devanagari script

ततस्तं प्रत्युवाचाथ मारीचो रक्षसां वरम्‌

Transliteration

tatastam pratyuvācātha mārīco rakṣasāṁ varam

Translation

അപ്പോൾ മാരീചൻ ആ രാക്ഷസശ്രേഷ്ഠനോട് മറുപടി പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अव्यय (पञ्चमी-अर्थे: 'from/thereupon')

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रत्युवाच: replied (to)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अथ: then, now
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ
• Form: अव्यय

• मारीचः: Mārīca
• मारीचः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारीच
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रक्षसाम्: of the rākṣasas (demons)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• वरम्: the best, foremost
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārīca
• a foremost rākṣasa (rakṣasāṁ vara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical weight of speech in decision-making: a reply is not merely a reaction but a moment where intention, counsel, and responsibility shape what follows.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Markandeya’s narration, Mārīca responds to another figure described as the foremost among rākṣasas, marking a turn in the dialogue that sets up subsequent actions.