Shloka 21

Araṇi Lost to the Deer: Pāṇḍavas Pursue to Preserve Agnihotra (अरणी-हरण प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

नियमपूर्वक उत्तम व्रतका पालन करनेवाले राजा अश्वपतिने किसी समय अपनी धर्मपरायणा बड़ी रानीमें गर्भ स्थापित किया

Transliteration

niyamapūrvakaṃ uttama-vratasya pālanaṃ kurvataḥ rājñaḥ aśvapateḥ kadācit dharmaparāyaṇāyāṃ jyeṣṭhāyāṃ mahīṣyāṃ garbhaḥ pratiṣṭhāpitaḥ

Translation

Sinabi ni Mārkaṇḍeya: Si Haring Aśvapati, na tapat na tumutupad ng mahuhusay na panata nang may disiplina at kaayusan, ay minsang nagpasimula ng pagdadalang-tao sa kanyang pangunahing reyna—isang babaeng nakatuon sa dharma. Sa gayon nagsimulang umusad ang matuwid na lahi at ang mga pananagutang moral na kaakibat ng paghahari at tungkulin sa tahanan.

Word by Word

• नियमपूर्वकम्: according to rule; with prescribed observances
• नियमपूर्वकम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नियमपूर्वक
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb)

• उत्तम: excellent, best
• उत्तम: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम
• Form: Neuter, accusative, singular (agreeing with व्रतम्)

• व्रतम्: vow, observance
• व्रतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत
• Form: Neuter, accusative, singular

• पालनम्: observance, keeping (of a vow)
• पालनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पालन
• Form: Neuter, accusative, singular

• कुर्वाणः: doing; performing
• कुर्वाणः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Present active participle, masculine, nominative, singular

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• अश्वपतिः: Aśvapati (lord of horses; proper name)
• अश्वपतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वपति
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• कदाचित्: once; at some time
• कदाचित्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित्
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb)

• धर्मपरायणाम्: devoted to dharma; righteous
• धर्मपरायणाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मपरायण
• Form: Feminine, accusative, singular (agreeing with रानीम्)

• बृहतीम्: great; eminent
• बृहतीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बृहती
• Form: Feminine, accusative, singular (agreeing with रानीम्)

• रानीम्: queen
• रानीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रानी
• Form: Feminine, accusative, singular

• गर्भम्: embryo; conception; pregnancy
• गर्भम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ
• Form: Masculine, accusative, singular

• अस्थापयत्: placed; caused to be established (implanted)
• अस्थापयत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (caus. स्थापय)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), causative, parasmaipada, 3rd person, singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Aśvapati
• the eldest queen (jyeṣṭhā mahīṣī)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds disciplined observance (niyama) and noble vows (vrata) as foundations of righteous kingship and household life, implying that even personal acts like begetting offspring are ideally aligned with dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Markandeya narrates that King Ashvapati, known for strict observance of vows, once impregnated his eldest queen who is devoted to dharma—introducing the beginning of a significant birth within the story.