Shloka 21
Chapter 2: Sudarśana Upākhyāna — Atithi-Dharma and the Conquest of Mṛtyu
Gṛhastha-Vrata
तामग्निश्चकमे साक्षाद् राजकन्यां सुदर्शनाम् । भूत्वा च ब्राह्मणो राजन् वरयामास तं नृपम्
tām agniś cakame sākṣād rājakaṇyāṃ sudarśanām | bhūtvā ca brāhmaṇo rājan varayāmāsa taṃ nṛpam ||
ভীষ্মে ক’লে— হে ৰাজন! ৰাজকন্যা সুধৰ্শনাৰ প্ৰতি সাক্ষাৎ অগ্নিদেৱ মোহিত হ’ল। তাৰ পিছত ব্ৰাহ্মণৰ ৰূপ ধৰি তেওঁ সেই নৃপতিক ওচৰলৈ গৈ বিধিপূৰ্বক কন্যাটিক বিবাহাৰ্থে প্ৰাৰ্থনা কৰিলে।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when powerful desire arises, dharma emphasizes pursuing aims through legitimate, socially and ethically sanctioned means—here, a formal request for marriage rather than coercion.
Agni becomes attracted to the princess Sudarśanā, takes on the appearance of a brāhmaṇa, and approaches her father (the king) to ask for her hand in marriage.