Shloka 16
The Pracetās Meet Lord Viṣṇu—Benedictions, Pure Prayer, and the Birth of Dakṣa
अपृथग्धर्मशीलानां सर्वेषां व: सुमध्यमा । अपृथग्धर्मशीलेयं भूयात्पत्न्यर्पिताशया ॥ १६ ॥
apṛthag-dharma-śīlānāṁ sarveṣāṁ vaḥ sumadhyamā apṛthag-dharma-śīleyaṁ bhūyāt patny arpitāśayā
أنتم أيها الإخوة جميعًا على طبيعة واحدة: أنتم عبّادي المخلصون وأبناء مطيعون لأبيكم. وكذلك تلك الفتاة الرشيقة الخصر هي من الصنف نفسه وقد أهدت قصدها إليكم جميعًا؛ فأنتم، أبناء براچينابرهِصت، وهي على مقام واحد، متحدون على مبدأ دارما واحد.
According to Vedic principles, a woman cannot have many husbands, although a husband can have many wives. In special instances, however, it is found that a woman has more than one husband. Draupadī, for instance, was married to all of the five Pāṇḍava brothers. Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead ordered all the sons of Prācīnabarhiṣat to marry the one girl born of the great sage Kaṇḍu and Pramlocā. In special cases, a girl is allowed to marry more than one man, provided she is able to treat her husbands equally. This is not possible for an ordinary woman. Only one who is especially qualified can be allowed to marry more than one husband. In this Age of Kali, to find such an equipoised woman is very difficult. Thus, according to scripture, kalau pañca vivarjayet. In this age a woman is forbidden to marry her husband’s brother. This system is still practiced in some of the hilly tracts of India. The Lord says, apṛthag-dharma-śīleyaṁ bhūyāt patny arpitāśayā. With the blessings of the Lord, all things are possible. The Lord especially blessed the girl to surrender equally to all brothers. Apṛthag-dharma, meaning “occupational duty without difference of purpose,” is taught in Bhagavad-gītā. Bhagavad-gītā is divided into three primary divisions: karma-yoga, jñāna-yoga and bhakti-yoga. The word yoga means “acting on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” As confirmed by Bhagavad-gītā (3.9) :
FAQs
This verse highlights marriage founded on shared dharma and character—when both parties are aligned in virtue and intention, household life becomes a dharmic path rather than mere social arrangement.
In the narrative of the Pracetās (Canto 4, Chapter 30), the king addresses them as a unified group of righteous sons and indicates that a virtuous maiden, devoted in her intention toward them, should become their wife—emphasizing unity and shared dharma.
Choose relationships based on shared values, integrity, and spiritual priorities; harmony and stability grow when partners are aligned in dharma rather than driven only by attraction or convenience.