Shloka 53

Origins of the Maruts — Origins of the Maruts Across the Manvantaras (Pulastya–Narada Dialogue)

Devanagari script

सा चाप्यारोढुमिच्छन्ती भर्तारं वै पतिव्रता निवारिता तदामात्यैर्न तथापि व्यतिष्ठता

Transliteration

sā cāpyāroḍhumicchantī bhartāraṃ vai pativratā nivāritā tadāmātyairna tathāpi vyatiṣṭhatā

Translation

She, being devoted to her husband (pativratā), wished to mount (the pyre) with her husband; though restrained then by the ministers, she still did not desist.

Speakers

• Narrator addressing the interlocutor (mune) within the dialogue frame

Key Themes

• Pativratā ideal
• Widowhood and ritual death motif
• Tension between personal vow and state counsel
• Dharma vs. social restraint

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "karuna", "secondaryRasa": "vira", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

Does this verse describe satī (self-immolation) explicitly?

It describes the intention to ascend with the husband and the attempt being restrained; the explicit mention of the funeral pyre (citā) appears in the next verse. Together they form a satī-like narrative motif, though the Purāṇic presentation can vary in emphasis and outcome.

Why are ministers (amātya) involved in restraining her?

In royal settings, the queen’s actions affect succession, stability, and the unborn heir (noted in 46.52). Ministers act as guardians of the realm and the dynasty, attempting to prevent an act that would endanger governance and the future child.

What does pativratā signify in Purāṇic ethics?

Pativratā denotes a wife’s steadfast fidelity and vow-centered devotion. In Purāṇic discourse it is often praised as a powerful dharmic force, sometimes portrayed as capable of generating spiritual merit or miraculous efficacy, though its ritual expressions are narrated diversely across texts.