तत्र श्रद्धा मनो: पत्नी होतारं समयाचत । दुहित्रर्थमुपागम्य प्रणिपत्य पयोव्रता ॥ १४ ॥
tatra śraddhā manoḥ patnī hotāraṁ samayācata duhitrartham upāgamya praṇipatya payovratā
During that sacrifice, Śraddhā, Manu’s wife—observing a vow of subsisting only on milk—approached the hotṛ priest, bowed down, and begged for a daughter.
Payo-vrata is a vow of austerity in which one subsists on milk; here Śraddhā adopts it with humility and prayerful intent to obtain a daughter.
Śraddhā approached the officiating priest to request a ritual outcome—specifically, to be blessed with a daughter—showing reliance on Vedic yajña procedures and devotional discipline.
It teaches sincere intention, respectful approach to sacred guidance, and disciplined vows—channeling desires through dharmic, prayerful practice rather than impulse.