Shloka 32
भृगुवंश-प्रस्तावना तथा पुलोमा–अग्नि-संवादः
Bhrigu Lineage Preface and the Pulomā–Agni Dialogue
पित्रा तु भूगवे दत्ता पुलोमेयं यशस्विनी । ददाति न पिता तुभ्यं वरलोभान्महायशा:,पिताने तो यह यशस्विनी पुलोमा भृगुको ही दी है। तुम्हारे वरण करनेपर भी इसके महायशस्वी पिता तुम्हारे हाथमें इसे इसलिये नहीं देते थे कि उनके मनमें तुमसे श्रेष्ठ वर मिल जानेका लोभ था
pitrā tu bhūgave dattā pulomeyaṃ yaśasvinī | dadāti na pitā tubhyaṃ varalobhān mahāyaśāḥ ||
Śaunaka said: “This illustrious Pulomā has indeed been given by her father to Bhṛgu. Yet, though you seek her hand, her highly renowned father does not formally give her to you, driven by the desire to obtain a more advantageous bridegroom.”
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical lapse: when a marriage-gift/commitment has already been made, withholding the bride due to greed for a ‘better’ match violates propriety and dharma, showing how varalobha (covetousness for advantage) distorts right conduct.
Śaunaka explains that Pulomā has been promised/given to Bhṛgu, but her father still delays or refuses to hand her over to the current suitor addressed as ‘you’, because he hopes to secure a more desirable bridegroom.