Shloka 32
Parīkṣit’s Questions and the Prelude to Kṛṣṇa’s Advent
Earth’s Burden, Viṣṇu’s Order, and Kaṁsa’s Fear
चतु:शतं पारिबर्हं गजानां हेममालिनाम् । अश्वानामयुतं सार्धं रथानां च त्रिषट्शतम् ॥ ३१ ॥ दासीनां सुकुमारीणां द्वे शते समलङ्कृते । दुहित्रे देवक: प्रादाद् याने दुहितृवत्सल: ॥ ३२ ॥
catuḥ-śataṁ pāribarhaṁ gajānāṁ hema-mālinām aśvānām ayutaṁ sārdhaṁ rathānāṁ ca tri-ṣaṭ-śatam
King Devaka, tenderly devoted to his daughter, bestowed upon Devakī at her departure a dowry: four hundred elephants adorned with golden garlands, ten thousand horses, eighteen hundred chariots, and two hundred exquisitely beautiful young maidservants, fully ornamented.
The system of giving a dowry to one’s daughter has existed in Vedic civilization for a very long time. Even today, following the same system, a father who has money will give his daughter an opulent dowry. A daughter would never inherit the property of her father, and therefore an affectionate father, during the marriage of his daughter, would give her as much as possible. A dowry, therefore, is never illegal according to the Vedic system. Here, of course, the gift offered as a dowry by Devaka to Devakī was not ordinary. Because Devaka was a king, he gave a dowry quite suitable to his royal position. Even an ordinary man, especially a high-class brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya or vaiśya, is supposed to give his daughter a liberal dowry. Immediately after the marriage, the daughter goes to her husband’s house, and it is also a custom for the brother of the bride to accompany his sister and brother-in-law to exhibit affection for her. This system was followed by Kaṁsa. These are all old customs in the society of varṇāśrama-dharma, which is now wrongly designated as Hindu. These long-standing customs are nicely described here.
FAQs
This verse states that Devaka arranged an opulent dowry: 400 gold-adorned elephants, 10,000 horses, and 3,600 chariots.
Devaka is described as affectionate to his daughter, and the gifts reflect royal custom and honor at Devakī’s marriage.
It highlights the principle of honoring sacred life events with generosity and responsibility, guided by dharma rather than pride.