Shloka 4

Devanagari script

शंयोरप्रतिमा भार्या सत्या सत्याथ धर्मजा । अग्निस्तस्य सुतो दीप्तस्तिस््र: कन्याश्न सुव्रता:,शंयुकी पत्नीका नाम था सत्या। वह धर्मकी पुत्री थी। उसके रूप और गुणोंकी कहीं तुलना नहीं थी। वह सदा सत्यके पालनमें तत्पर रहती थी। उसके गर्भसे शंयुके एक अग्निस्वरूप पुत्र तथा उत्तम व्रतका पालन करनेवाली तीन कन्याएँ हुईं

Transliteration

Śaṁyor apratimā bhāryā Satyā satyātha dharmajā | Agnis tasya suto dīptas tisraḥ kanyāś ca suvratāḥ ||

Translation

马尔坎德耶说道：商瑜（Śaṃyu）有一位无与伦比的妻子，名为萨蒂娅（Satyā）——守真不渝，且为法（Dharma）之女。由她，商瑜得一光辉灿然之子，名阿耆尼（Agni），又得三位女儿，皆坚守上善之誓与行持。

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'śaṁyoḥ (śaṁyuḥ)', 'definition': 'of Śaṁyu

• a person named Śaṁyu'}, {'term': 'apratimā', 'definition': 'without equal

• incomparable'}, {'term': 'bhāryā', 'definition': 'wife'}, {'term': 'Satyā', 'definition': 'Satyā (proper name)

• also ‘truthful’'}, {'term': 'satyā', 'definition': 'truthful

• devoted to truth'}, {'term': 'atha', 'definition': 'and then

• moreover'}, {'term': 'dharmajā', 'definition': 'born of Dharma

• daughter of Dharma'}, {'term': 'Agniḥ', 'definition': 'Agni (fire

• here, the son named Agni'}, {'term': 'tasya', 'definition': 'his

• of him (Śaṁyu’s)'}, {'term': 'sutaḥ', 'definition': 'son'}, {'term': 'dīptaḥ', 'definition': 'bright, radiant, blazing'}, {'term': 'tisraḥ', 'definition': 'three (feminine)'}, {'term': 'kanyāḥ', 'definition': 'daughters

• maidens'}, {'term': 'ca', 'definition': 'and'}, {'term': 'suvratāḥ', 'definition': 'of good vows

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Śaṁyu
• Satyā
• Dharma
• Agni
• three daughters (unnamed)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse upholds satya (truthfulness) and dharma as defining virtues: Satyā is praised as incomparable because she embodies truth and is linked to Dharma itself, suggesting that ethical integrity is the true source of excellence and auspicious lineage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya describes Śaṁyu’s family: his exceptional wife Satyā (born of Dharma), their radiant son named Agni, and three daughters noted for their disciplined vows and virtuous conduct.