Shloka 51
Dāyavibhāga (Inheritance Apportionment) and Household Precedence — Dialogue of Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīṣma
यत्रेष्ट तत्र देया स्याज्नात्र कार्या विचारणा । कुर्वते जीवतो<प्येवं मृते नैवास्ति संशय:
yatreṣṭa tatra deyā syāj jñātrā kāryā vicāraṇā | kurvate jīvato 'py evaṁ mṛte naivāsti saṁśayaḥ ||
Bhīṣma sagt: „Eine Tochter soll dort zur Ehe gegeben werden, wo ein vorzüglicher und geeigneter Bräutigam gefunden wird; gegenteilige Erwägungen soll man nicht hegen. Selbst wenn derjenige, der den Brautpreis oder eine andere Gegenleistung anbietet, noch lebt, verheiraten Ehrenhafte das Mädchen mit dem würdigen Bräutigam, sobald er verfügbar ist; und ist jener gestorben, so ist es völlig zweifelsfrei, sie anderweitig zu geben.“
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Guardians should prioritize the girl’s welfare and dharmic suitability of the groom: when a worthy match is available, the marriage should be concluded without being bound by contrary considerations such as prior claims or payments.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (especially household and social duties), he gives a practical rule about arranging a daughter’s marriage: choose the best eligible groom available, and do not hesitate even if someone else has offered consideration; if that person has died, the permissibility is even clearer.