Shloka 20

Divodāsa–Mādhavī Saṃvāda: Pratardana-janma and Kanyā-niryātana (दिवोदास–माधवी संवादः / प्रतर्दन-जननम् / कन्या-निर्यातनम्)

Devanagari script

हर्यश्व: सत्यवचने स्थित: स्थित्वा च पौरुषे । दुर्लभत्वाद्धयानां च प्रददौ माधवीं पुन:

Transliteration

haryaśvaḥ satyavacane sthitaḥ sthitvā ca pauruṣe | durlabhatvāddhayānāṃ ca pradadau mādhavīṃ punaḥ ||

Translation

नारद म्हणाले—सत्यवचनात अढळ आणि पौरुषात दृढ असलेल्या राजा हर्यश्वाने, त्या घोड्यांची दुर्मिळता पाहून, माधवीला पुन्हा परत दिले.

Word by Word

हर्यश्वःHaryashva (proper name; 'having tawny horses')

सत्यवचनेin truthfulness / in keeping true speech

स्थितःstanding; abiding

स्थित्वाhaving stood; having remained

चand

पौरुषेin manliness/valor

दुर्लभत्वात्because of scarcity/difficulty of obtaining

धयानाम्of the horses (dhaya-)

चand

प्रददौgave; bestowed

माधवींMādhavī (proper name)

पुनःagain

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

Haryaśva

Mādhavī

horses

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma grounded in satya (truthfulness): a ruler should stand by his word and act with disciplined resolve, valuing ethical conduct over mere possession—here expressed by returning Mādhavī despite the lure of rare horses.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Nārada’s narration of the Mādhavī story, King Haryaśva—having obtained the desired rare horses—acts honorably and gives Mādhavī back again, showing steadfastness in truth and proper conduct.