Shloka 33
Adhyāya 31: Rājasūya-samāgama — The Gathering of Kings and the Ordering of Hospitality
ततः कालेन तां कन््यां तथैव हि तदा नृपः । प्रददौ विप्ररूपाय वह्लये शिरसा नत:,तत्पश्चात् विवाहके योग्य समय आनेपर राजाने उस कन्याको ब्राह्मणरूपधारी अग्निदेवकी सेवामें अर्पित कर दिया और उनके चरणोंमें सिर रखकर नमस्कार किया। राजा नीलकी सुन्दरी कन्याको पत्नीरूपमें ग्रहण करके भगवान् अग्निने राजापर अपना कृपाप्रसाद प्रकट किया
tataḥ kālena tāṁ kanyāṁ tathaiva hi tadā nṛpaḥ | pradadau viprarūpāya vahlaye śirasā nataḥ ||
Darauf, als die rechte Zeit gekommen war, gab der König — wie es verabredet worden war — jene Maid Vahni (Agni), der die Gestalt eines Brāhmaṇa angenommen hatte, zur Ehe. In ehrfürchtiger Verneigung bot er sie mit gebührender Demut dar. So nahm Agni die Jungfrau an und erwies dem König seine gnädige Gunst.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma as fidelity to one’s pledged duty: the king waits for the proper time, performs the giving with reverence, and thereby earns divine favor. Ethical emphasis falls on keeping commitments, honoring sacred rites, and approaching the divine with humility.
Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates that, when the appropriate time came, the king formally gives the maiden to Agni (Vahni), who is present in the guise of a brahmin. The king bows his head in respect as he makes the offering, and Agni accepts, granting the king his gracious blessing.