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,वह रूप और सत्त्व (सत्य)-से संयुक्त तथा समस्त सदगुणोंसे सम्पन्न होनेके कारण 'सत्यवती” नामसे प्रसिद्ध हुई। मछेरोंके आश्रयमें रहनेके कारण वह पवित्र मुसकानवाली कन्या कुछ कालतक मत्स्यगन्धा नामसे ही विख्यात रही। वह पिताकी सेवाके लिये यमुनाजीके जलमें नाव चलाया करती थी। एक दिन तीर्थयात्राके उद्देश्स्से सब ओर विचरनेवाले महर्षि पराशरने उसे देखा। वह अतिशय रूप-सौन्दर्यसे सुशोभित थी। सिद्धोंके हृदयमें भी उसे पानेकी अभिलाषा जाग उठती थी
āsīt sā matsyagandhaiva kañcit kāla śucismitā | śuśrūṣārthaṃ pitur nāvaṃ vāhayantīṃ jale ca tām ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: Por algum tempo, aquela donzela, conhecida como Matsyagandhā, permaneceu célebre por esse mesmo nome; de sorriso puro e suave, conduzia uma barca sobre as águas para servir ao pai. (No curso mais amplo da narrativa, sua fama posterior como Satyavatī nasce de sua veracidade e excelência de caráter, ainda que sua vida inicial seja marcada pelo humilde serviço entre os pescadores.)
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.