Shloka 25
Sāvitrī’s Report and Nārada’s Prognosis (सावित्र्याख्यान—सत्यवान्-गुणवर्णनं तथा अल्पायुषः पूर्वसूचना)
मैं इस समय इस भूमण्डलका राजराजेश्वर हूँ चारों वर्णोकी रक्षा करनेवाला हूँ। कल्याणि! तुम्हारा जो भी अभिलषित मनोरथ हो, उसे बताओ, देर न करो ।।
ahaṁ asmin samaye asya bhūmaṇḍalasya rājarājeśvaraḥ, caturṇāṁ varṇānāṁ rakṣitā. kalyāṇi! tava yo ’pi abhilaṣitaḥ manorathaḥ, taṁ brūhi; mā ciram akārṣīḥ. sā tad-vacanam ājñāya parigṛhya narādhipam, ātmano balam ājñāya tata enam uvāca ha—
“此时此刻，我乃统御整个大地的至上君王，护持四姓四阶之秩序。吉祥的夫人啊，你心中所怀任何愿望——尽管说来，莫要迟疑。”她领会其言，又以种种方式使国王在誓诺上无可回避，并且准确衡量了自身的力量，于是凯凯伊便对他说道。
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds rāja-dharma: a king’s legitimacy is tied to protecting the realm and upholding social order. It also warns that promises and boons, once granted, can be strategically leveraged—so ethical speech and careful granting of vows are crucial.
A king proclaims his sovereignty and protective duty and invites the woman addressed as ‘kalyāṇi’ to state her desired request without delay. She understands his words, ensures his commitment, gauges her own capacity, and then proceeds to state her demand—introducing a pivotal request framed through prior assurance.