Shloka 18

Sāvitrī–Satyavān Vivāha: Kanyāpradāna and Āśrama-Śīla (सावित्री-सत्यवान्विवाहः)

Devanagari script

चोदयामास तस्‍्यार्थे सा रामं विधिचोदिता । रामस्तस्या: प्रियं कुर्वन्‌ धनुरादाय सत्वर:

Transliteration

codayāmāsa tasyārthe sā rāmaṁ vidhicoditā | rāmas tasyāḥ priyaṁ kurvan dhanur ādāya satvaraḥ ||

Translation

ด้วยแรงผลักดันแห่งชะตา นางจึงเร่งเร้าให้พระรามกระทำเพื่อจุดประสงค์นั้น พระรามผู้มุ่งทำให้เป็นที่พอพระทัยของนาง ก็รีบหยิบคันศรขึ้นทันที

Word by Word

चोदयामासurged, prompted

तस्यof him/that

अर्थेin the matter/purpose

साshe

रामम्Rama

विधिby fate/ordinance

चोदिताimpelled, urged

रामःRama

तस्याःof her

प्रियम्what is dear/pleasing (a favor)

कुर्वन्doing, performing

धनुःbow

आदायhaving taken

सत्वरःquick, in haste

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

Rāma

bow (dhanuḥ)

fate/ordinance (vidhi)

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 the interplay of destiny (vidhi) and human agency: when a duty or ordained course presses upon events, decisive action—guided by loyalty and the wish to do what is right/pleasing within one’s role—follows without delay.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Mārkaṇḍeya’s narration, a woman, driven by an ordained purpose, urges Rāma to act. Rāma, wishing to fulfill her desire, promptly takes up his bow, signaling readiness for immediate action.