आस्तीककथाप्रारम्भः — Beginning of the Āstīka Narrative
Kadrū–Vinatā, Aruṇa and Garuḍa Origins
एवमुक्त्वा ततः प्रादाद् भार्यार्थे वरवर्णिनीम् । सचतां प्रतिजग्राह विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा,ऐसा कहकर वासुकिने वह सुन्दरी कन्या मुनिको पत्नीरूपमें प्रदान की। मुनिने भी शास्त्रीय विधिके अनुसार उसका पाणिग्रहण किया
evam uktvā tataḥ prādād bhāryārthe varavarṇinīm | sa ca tāṃ pratijagrāha vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā ||
ثم بعد أن قال ذلك، زوّج فاسُكي تلك الفتاة الحسناءَ ذات اللون البهيّ للناسِك زوجةً. فقبلها الناسكُ زواجًا، وأجرى شعيرةَ أخذ اليد وفق الطقوس التي تقرّرها الشريعة المقدّسة.
शौनक उवाच
The verse underscores that major life-transitions—especially marriage—are to be grounded in dharma: consent and acceptance are formalized through prescribed rites (vidhi), making the union socially and ethically legitimate rather than arbitrary.
After speaking, Vāsuki bestows a maiden upon a sage to be his wife. The sage accepts her through the traditional ritual act of marriage (pāṇigrahaṇa), performed according to scriptural injunction.