Shloka 25
एतच्छुल्क॑ भवत्वस्या: कुलकृज्जायतामिह । एतेन समयेनेमां प्रतिगृह्लीष्व पाण्डव,“यद्यपि यह पुत्री है, तो भी हेतुविधिसे (अर्थात् इससे जो प्रथम पुत्र होगा, वह मेरा ही पुत्र माना जायगा, इस हेतुसे) मैंने इसे पुत्रकी संज्ञा दे रखी है। भरतश्रेष्ठ! तुम्हारे द्वारा इसके गर्भसे जो एक पुत्र उत्पन्न हो, वह यहीं रहकर इस कुलपरम्पराका प्रवर्तक हो; इस कन्याके विवाहका यही शुल्क आपको देना होगा। पाण्डुनन्दन! इसी शर्तके अनुसार आप इसे ग्रहण करें!
etac chulkaṁ bhavatv asyāḥ kulakṛj jāyatām iha | etena samayenemāṁ pratigṛhṇīṣva pāṇḍava ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Let this be her bride-price: let a son be born here who will continue the line of this family. O Pāṇḍava, accept this maiden on this condition—that the first son born from her womb through you shall remain here and become the founder and sustainer of this lineage.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma as social responsibility: marriage is framed not merely as personal union but as a covenant aimed at preserving a lineage. The ethical emphasis is on honoring agreed conditions (samaya) and prioritizing continuity of family duty over individual claim.
A condition is set for accepting a maiden in marriage: the ‘śulka’ (stipulated consideration) is that the first son born from her through Pāṇḍu will remain in her natal line and serve as the continuer/founder of that family’s succession.