Vamana Purana — Jabali on the Banyan Tree, Shloka 43
Jabali Bound on the Banyan Tree and Nandayanti’s Appeal at Sri-Kantha on the Yamuna
मदर्थे च क्षमं मे ऽस्य स्वप्रदानं सुरूपिणः सख्यस्तामब्रुवन् बाला न प्रगल्भऽसि सुन्दरि
madarthe ca kṣamaṃ me 'sya svapradānaṃ surūpiṇaḥ sakhyastāmabruvan bālā na pragalbha'si sundari
“And for my sake, let the self-giving (offering oneself in marriage) to that handsome man be permitted.” Her friends said to the girl: “Fair one, you are not yet bold/independent (enough) [to decide this on your own].”
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FAQs
Svapradāna literally ‘self-giving’ commonly denotes a maiden’s offering of herself in marriage. Texts often treat it as requiring social sanction—typically through the father/guardian—rather than purely private choice.
It signals normative restraint: the maiden is advised that decisive action in marriage matters is not solely hers, reflecting dharmaśāstric expectations of guardianship and family consent.
Not necessarily. It redirects desire into socially validated channels—suggesting that the feeling may be real, but the procedure must be proper.