Shloka 24

Marutta Seeks Saṃvarta’s Priestly Support; Conditions, Truth-Discipline, and Rival Powers

Devanagari script

संवर्त उवाच आविक्षित शुभा बुद्धिर्वर्ततां तव कर्मसु । याजनं हि ममाप्येव वर्तते हृदि पार्थिव,संवर्तने कहा--अविक्षित्‌-कुमार! तुम्हारी शुभ बुद्धि सदा सत्कर्मोंमें ही लगी रहे। पृथ्वीनाथ! मेरे मनमें भी तुम्हारा यज्ञ करानेकी इच्छा तो है ही

Transliteration

Saṁvarta uvāca: āvikṣita śubhā buddhir vartatāṁ tava karmasu | yājanaṁ hi mamāpy eva vartate hṛdi pārthiva ||

Translation

Saṁvarta nói: “Hỡi Āvikṣita, mong trí hiểu cao quý của ngươi luôn bền bỉ gắn với những việc làm chính nghĩa. Hỡi bậc quân vương, trong lòng ta cũng thật có ước nguyện được chủ tế lễ tế của ngươi.”

Word by Word

संवर्तःSamvarta (name of the speaker)

उवाचsaid/spoke

आविक्षितO Avikṣit (addressed person)

शुभाauspicious, good

बुद्धिःintellect, understanding

वर्तताम्may it remain/continue; let it be engaged

तवof you/your

कर्मसुin actions/deeds

याजनम्the act of officiating a sacrifice; conducting a yajña (for another)

हिindeed, for

ममof me/my

अपिalso, even

एवcertainly, indeed

वर्ततेexists, remains, is present (in the mind)

हृदिin the heart/mind

पार्थिवO king, O ruler of the earth

Speaker

संवर्त उवाच

Characters & Entities

Saṁvarta

Āvikṣit

pārthiva (the king)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Right intention and steady discernment should guide a ruler’s actions; ritual authority (the priest’s role) is framed as service rooted in sincere inner resolve rather than mere outward performance.

What is happening in the narrative?

The sage Saṁvarta addresses Āvikṣit/the king, blessing him that his mind remain fixed on good deeds, and adds that he himself harbors the desire to conduct the king’s sacrifice.