Shloka 69
Duḥṣantasya Vana-praveśaḥ
King Duḥṣanta’s Entry into the Forest Hunt
आसीत् सा मत्स्यगन्धैव कंचित् काल शुचिस्मिता । शुश्रूषार्थ पितुर्नावं वाहयन्तीं जले च ताम्
āsīt sā matsyagandhaiva kañcit kāla śucismitā | śuśrūṣārthaṃ pitur nāvaṃ vāhayantīṃ jale ca tām ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Untuk beberapa lama, gadis itu—yang dikenali sebagai Matsyagandhā—tetap masyhur dengan nama itu; dengan senyuman yang suci dan lembut, dia mengemudi perahu di atas air demi berkhidmat kepada ayahnya. (Dalam jalur kisah yang lebih luas, kemasyhurannya kemudian sebagai Satyavatī lahir daripada kebenaran dan keunggulan budi pekertinya, walaupun masa mudanya ditandai oleh khidmat yang rendah hati di kalangan nelayan.)
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharma through humble, consistent service: the maiden’s identity is shaped not by birth or circumstance but by conduct—filial duty, modesty, and steady work. It also hints at how virtue can coexist with social marginality, preparing the ethical ground for her later elevation as Satyavatī.
Vaiśaṃpāyana describes the young woman known as Matsyagandhā spending a period of her life ferrying a boat on the river to serve her father. In the immediate surrounding story, this sets the scene for the sage Parāśara to notice her during his travels.