Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

मार्कण्डेय उवाच जातपुत्रो दशरथ: प्रीतिमानभवन्नूप । क्रियारतिर्धर्मरत: सततं वृद्धसेविता

Transliteration

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca | jātaputro daśarathaḥ prītimān abhavan nṛpa | kriyāratiḥ dharmarataḥ satataṁ vṛddhasevitā ||

Translation

马尔坎德耶说道：“大王啊，诸子诞生之时，陀沙罗陀心中充满欢喜。他恒常乐于善行，坚住于法（dharma），并常常侍奉敬重长者。”

Word by Word

• मार्कण्डेयः: Markandeya
• मार्कण्डेयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्कण्डेय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular

• जातपुत्रः: having sons born / whose sons were born
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जातपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दशरथः: Dasharatha
• दशरथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रीतिमान्: joyful, delighted
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीतिमत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अभवत्: became, was
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Singular

• नृप: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• क्रियारतिः: delighting in (proper) actions/rites
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रियारति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मरतः: devoted to dharma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मरत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सततम्: always, continually
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सततम्

• वृद्धसेविता: one who serves elders
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्धसेवितृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Daśaratha
• nṛpa (the king being addressed)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents an ethical model of kingship: true joy (even in personal blessings like the birth of sons) should be accompanied by steadfast commitment to dharma—expressed through right action and humble service to elders.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya describes King Daśaratha’s response after the birth of his sons, emphasizing his happiness and his established virtues—devotion to proper conduct, dedication to dharma, and continual respect and service toward elders.