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
āsīt sā matsyagandhaiva kañcit kāla śucismitā | śuśrūṣārthaṃ pitur nāvaṃ vāhayantīṃ jale ca tām ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Sa loob ng ilang panahon, ang dalagang iyon—na kilala bilang Matsyagandhā—ay nanatiling tanyag sa mismong pangalang iyon; may malinis at mahinahong ngiti, siya’y nagtataguyod ng bangka sa tubig upang paglingkuran ang kanyang ama. (Sa mas malawak na salaysay, ang kanyang pagkakilala kalaunan bilang Satyavatī ay nag-ugat sa kanyang katapatan at kadakilaan ng asal, bagama’t ang unang yugto ng kanyang buhay ay minarkahan ng mapagkumbabang paglilingkod sa piling ng mga mangingisda.)
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.