Shloka 21
Sāvitrī’s Report and Nārada’s Prognosis (सावित्र्याख्यान—सत्यवान्-गुणवर्णनं तथा अल्पायुषः पूर्वसूचना)
“सच्ची प्रतिज्ञा करनेवाले महाराज! आपने पहले जो “तेरा मनोरथ सफल करूँगा! ऐसा वर दिया था, उसे आज पूर्ण कीजिये और उस संकटसे मुक्त हो जाइये'
Satyapratijña-kāraka mahārāja! bhavān pūrvaṁ yat “tava manorathaṁ saphalaṁ kariṣyāmi” iti varaṁ dattavān, tad adya pūrayatu, asmat saṅkaṭāt ca mukto bhavatu.
Mārkaṇḍeya nói: “Ôi Đại vương, bậc giữ vững lời thề chân thật! Ân huệ xưa ngài đã ban—‘Ta sẽ làm cho điều ngươi mong được thành’—nay phải được hoàn tất. Xin hãy thực hiện ngay hôm nay để tự giải thoát khỏi cơn nguy này.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s integrity is measured by fidelity to promises: a boon once granted must be honored, and truthful commitment (satya-pratijñā) is presented as a dharmic safeguard that averts or resolves crisis.
Mārkaṇḍeya addresses a king who had earlier promised to fulfill someone’s wish. He urges the king to complete that pledged boon immediately, implying that the king’s present danger is tied to delaying or neglecting the promised act.