Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

ततः स राजा मतिमान्‌ मत्वा55त्मानं वयोडथधिकम्‌ | मन्त्रयामास सचिवेर्धर्मजैश्व पुरोहितैः

Transliteration

tataḥ sa rājā matimān matvā ātmānaṃ vayodhikam | mantrayāmāsa sacivair dharmajñaiś ca purohitaiḥ ||

Translation

Bấy giờ vị vua minh triết ấy, tự xét mình đã cao niên, liền bàn định với các đại thần—những người am tường dharma—và với các tư tế hoàng gia, để tìm một đường lối hợp với chính đạo và phép trị nước thận trọng.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: Avyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from/then')

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

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

• मतिमान्: wise/intelligent
• मतिमान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मतिमत्
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• मत्वा: having considered
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा), 'having thought/considered'

• आत्मानम्: himself
• आत्मानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, accusative, singular

• वयोऽथ: age, and then
• वयोऽथ: Karma
• Type: Noun+Indeclinable
• Root: वयस् + अथ
• Form: वयस्: Neuter, accusative, singular; अथ: Avyaya

• अधिकम्: greater/advanced
• अधिकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक
• Form: Neuter, accusative, singular (used predicatively/comparatively)

• मन्त्रयामास: consulted/took counsel
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्त्रय्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, singular, parasmaipada

• सचिवैः: with ministers
• सचिवैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सचिव
• Form: Masculine, instrumental, plural

• धर्मजैः: righteous/virtuous
• धर्मजैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मज
• Form: Masculine, instrumental, plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: Avyaya (conjunction)

• पुरोहितैः: with priests/chaplains
• पुरोहितैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरोहित
• Form: Masculine, instrumental, plural

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Markandeya
• the king (unnamed in this verse)
• ministers (saciva)
• purohitas (royal priests)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should recognize life’s stages and, when age advances, act with humility and prudence by seeking guidance from dharma-knowing counselors and learned priests, so that decisions remain aligned with righteousness rather than personal impulse.

What is happening in the narrative?

Markandeya narrates that the king, realizing he is now old, begins deliberations and consults his ministers and purohitas to decide the proper next steps—implying a transition or major decision requiring dharmic counsel.