|| न स्मराम्युक्तपूर्व वै स्वैरेष्वनृतां गिरम्
na smarāmy uktapūrvaṃ vai svair eṣv anṛtāṃ giram
“เรามิได้ระลึกเลยว่าเคยกล่าววาจาเท็จมาก่อน แม้ในเรื่องที่เรามีอิสระจะพูดตามใจตนก็ตาม”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
The verse upholds satya (truthfulness) as a central ethical discipline: even when one has freedom and no external constraint, one should not resort to false speech.
Mārkaṇḍeya, speaking within the Vana Parva discourse, asserts his lifelong commitment to truthful speech, emphasizing moral integrity as part of his authority and character.