Shloka 22
Uttaṅka’s Petition for Madayantī’s Divine Earrings (Maṇikuṇḍala) — Agreement, Proof, and Vigilance
इत्थं च परितुष्टं मां विजानीहि भृगूद्वह । युवा षोडशवर्षो हि यद्यद्य भविता भवान्,भगुकुलभूषण! इस तरह तुम मुझे पूर्ण संतुष्ट जानो। यदि आज तुम सोलह वर्षके तरुण हो जाओ तो मैं तुम्हें पत्नीरूपसे अपनी कुमारी कन्या अर्पित कर दूँगा; क्योंकि इसके सिवा दूसरी कोई स्त्री तुम्हारे तेजको नहीं सह सकती
itthaṃ ca parituṣṭaṃ māṃ vijānīhi bhṛgūdvaha | yuvā ṣoḍaśavarṣo hi yadyad bhavitā bhavān bhṛgukulabhūṣaṇa ||
„So wisse denn, dass ich auf diese Weise völlig zufrieden bin, o Vornehmster der Bhṛgu. O Zierde des Bhṛgu-Geschlechts: Würdest du zu einem Jüngling von sechzehn Jahren werden, so gäbe ich dir meine jungfräuliche Tochter zur Frau; denn außer ihr vermag keine andere Frau den Glanz deiner asketischen Kraft zu ertragen.“
गौतम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical idea of suitability (yogyatā) in marriage: extraordinary spiritual power (tejas born of tapas) requires a partner capable of bearing that intensity. It also frames marriage as a dharmic offering made only after the elder is fully satisfied with the ascetic’s conduct.
Gautama addresses a Bhṛgu-descended ascetic, declaring himself completely pleased. He then states that if the ascetic were of youthful age (sixteen), he would give his maiden daughter in marriage, because no other woman could endure the ascetic’s radiance.