Shloka 20

Sāvitrī’s Report and Nārada’s Prognosis (सावित्र्याख्यान—सत्यवान्-गुणवर्णनं तथा अल्पायुषः पूर्वसूचना)

Devanagari script

विविक्ते पतिमासाद्य हसन्तीव शुचिस्मिता । प्रणयं व्यज्जयन्तीव मधुरं वाक्यमब्रवीत्‌

Transliteration

vivikte patim āsādya hasantīva śucismitā | praṇayaṃ vyajayantīva madhuraṃ vākyam abravīt |

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya nói: Gặp phu quân nơi chốn vắng, nàng mỉm cười—một nụ cười trong sạch, dịu hiền—rồi cất lời ngọt ngào, như vừa bật cười vừa phô bày sự âu yếm thân tình. Cảnh ấy cho thấy lời nói khéo léo và vẻ quyến rũ bề ngoài có thể uốn nắn ý chí của bậc quân vương, làm dấy lên thế lưỡng nan đạo lý giữa ảnh hưởng của người vợ và đòi hỏi của vương đạo theo dharma.

Word by Word

• विविक्ते: in a secluded place
• विविक्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविक्त
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• पतिम्: husband
• पतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आसाद्य: having approached / reaching
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + सद्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• हसन्ती: laughing / smiling
• हसन्ती: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: हस्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• शुचिस्मिता: one with a pure/bright smile
• शुचिस्मिता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि-स्मित
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रणयम्: affection / love
• प्रणयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• व्यञ्जयन्ती: manifesting / indicating
• व्यञ्जयन्ती: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + अञ्ज्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• मधुरम्: sweet
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वाक्यम्: speech / words
• वाक्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अब्रवीत्: said / spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• pati (husband)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the moral power of speech and demeanor: sweet, intimate words spoken in private can strongly influence decisions. It implicitly cautions that persuasion—especially when driven by personal desire—must be weighed against dharma and the responsibilities of leadership.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya describes a woman approaching her husband in seclusion and speaking to him with a pure smile and affectionate manner, setting the stage for a persuasive request or counsel delivered through charming, gentle speech.