Shloka 24

Marutta Seeks Saṃvarta’s Priestly Support; Conditions, Truth-Discipline, and Rival Powers

Devanagari script

संवर्त उवाच आविक्षित शुभा बुद्धिर्वर्ततां तव कर्मसु । याजनं हि ममाप्येव वर्तते हृदि पार्थिव,संवर्तने कहा--अविक्षित्‌-कुमार! तुम्हारी शुभ बुद्धि सदा सत्कर्मोंमें ही लगी रहे। पृथ्वीनाथ! मेरे मनमें भी तुम्हारा यज्ञ करानेकी इच्छा तो है ही

Transliteration

Saṁvarta uvāca: āvikṣita śubhā buddhir vartatāṁ tava karmasu | yājanaṁ hi mamāpy eva vartate hṛdi pārthiva ||

Translation

Saṁvarta berkata: “Wahai Āvikṣita, semoga kebijaksanaan muliamu tetap teguh terarah pada perbuatan-perbuatan dharma. Wahai raja, di dalam hatiku sendiri pun sungguh bersemayam keinginan untuk memimpin korban sucimu.”

Word by Word

संवर्तःSamvarta (name of the speaker)

उवाचsaid/spoke

आविक्षितO Avikṣit (addressed person)

शुभाauspicious, good

बुद्धिःintellect, understanding

वर्तताम्may it remain/continue; let it be engaged

तवof you/your

कर्मसुin actions/deeds

याजनम्the act of officiating a sacrifice; conducting a yajña (for another)

हिindeed, for

ममof me/my

अपिalso, even

एवcertainly, indeed

वर्ततेexists, remains, is present (in the mind)

हृदिin the heart/mind

पार्थिवO king, O ruler of the earth

Speaker

संवर्त उवाच

Characters & Entities

Saṁvarta

Āvikṣit

pārthiva (the king)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Right intention and steady discernment should guide a ruler’s actions; ritual authority (the priest’s role) is framed as service rooted in sincere inner resolve rather than mere outward performance.

What is happening in the narrative?

The sage Saṁvarta addresses Āvikṣit/the king, blessing him that his mind remain fixed on good deeds, and adds that he himself harbors the desire to conduct the king’s sacrifice.