Shloka 20
Śulka, Kanyā, and Dauhitra-Riktha: Discourse on Bride-Price and Inheritance Rights (शुल्क-कन्या-दौहित्र-रिक्थविचारः)
तयोर्विस्पर्थतोरेवे शपथो5यमभूत् तदा । सहसोद्दिश्य विपुलं ततो वाक्यमथोचतु:
tayor vispartator eva śapatho 'yam abhūt tadā | sahasoddhiśya vipulaṃ tato vākyam athocatuḥ ||
Bhīṣma sprach: Während jene beiden weiterhin miteinander wetteiferten, wurde damals dieser Schwur abgelegt. Danach sprachen sie, von kühner und machtvoller Absicht getragen, Worte von größter Tragweite—Worte, die ihr Verhalten binden und das Kommende gestalten sollten.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how contention can culminate in binding vows, and how speech—especially an oath—creates moral and practical obligations. It implicitly warns that forceful words spoken in the heat of rivalry can determine future conduct and consequences.
Bhīṣma narrates that two individuals are engaged in a contest or dispute. In that context an oath is made, and then the two deliver a significant statement—suggesting a turning point where their rivalry becomes formalized through a vow.