Shloka 31
भृगुवंश-प्रस्तावना तथा पुलोमा–अग्नि-संवादः
Bhrigu Lineage Preface and the Pulomā–Agni Dialogue
अग्निनर्वाच त्वया वृता पुलोमेयं पूर्व दानवनन्दन । किन्त्वियं विधिना पूर्व मन्त्रवन्न वृता त्वया,अग्निदेव बोले--दानवनन्दन! इसमें संदेह नहीं कि पहले तुम्हींने इस पुलोमाका वरण किया था, किंतु विधिपूर्वक मन्त्रोच्चारण करते हुए इसके साथ तुमने विवाह नहीं किया था
agnir uvāca tvayā vṛtā pulomeyaṃ pūrva dānavanandana | kintv iyaṃ vidhinā pūrva mantravan na vṛtā tvayā ||
Agni said: “O beloved son of the Dānava race, it is true that you had formerly chosen Pulomā. Yet you did not take her in marriage according to the prescribed rite—accompanied by the proper mantras and formal procedure.”
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse distinguishes personal choice from lawful marriage: a relationship gains social and moral legitimacy only when completed according to prescribed dharma—proper ritual procedure and mantra-based rites.
Agni addresses a Dānava, acknowledging that Pulomā had been chosen earlier, but clarifying that no formal, mantra-sanctioned marriage had taken place—implying the prior claim lacks full ritual validity.