Shloka 2
स्त्रीणां माहात्म्यप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into the Excellence of Women
Pativratā-Dharma
Devanagari script
राजोवाच ब्रवीतु भगवान् समयमिति,राजाने कहा--भगवन्! आप अपनी शर्त बताइये
Transliteration
rājovāca: bravītu bhagavān samayam iti | rājāna āha—bhagavan! āp āpnī śarta batāiye ||
Translation
国王说道：“请尊者宣示既定的条件。”他以恭敬之心对圣贤发问，请其明白陈述条款——表明自己愿在公正与达摩的准则之内行事，而非凭一时冲动或以强迫相逼。
Word by Word
राजाthe king
राजा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
उवाचsaid
उवाच:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPerfect (Paroksha-bhuta), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
ब्रवीतुlet (him) say / may (he) state
ब्रवीतु:
TypeVerb
Rootब्रू
FormImperative (Lot), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
भगवान्the venerable one / the blessed one
भगवान्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootभगवत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
समयम्the agreement / condition / stipulation
समयम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसमय
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
इति"thus" (quotative particle)
इति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति
Speaker
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Characters & Entities
M
MarkandeyaK
King (unnamed in this line)B
Bhagavan (revered sage addressed)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Even when seeking a boon, story, or instruction, one should proceed through clear, mutually accepted conditions (samaya) and with reverence—an ethical commitment to fairness, restraint, and dharmic order.
Within Markandeya’s narration, a king speaks and asks the revered person (a sage) to state the agreed terms or condition, indicating the start of an exchange governed by a stipulated rule or vow.