Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

तत आहूय सोतथ्यं ददावत्रिरयशस्विनीम्‌ | भार्यार्थे स च जग्राह विधिवद्‌ भूरिदक्षिण:

Transliteration

tata āhūya sotathyaṁ dadāv atrir ayaśasvinīm | bhāryārthe sa ca jagrāha vidhivad bhūridakṣiṇaḥ ||

Translation

Then, after some time, the sage Atri—father of Soma—summoned Utathya and bestowed upon him his illustrious granddaughter (Bhadrā) in marriage. Utathya, famed for giving abundant gifts as bridal fees, duly accepted her hand according to the prescribed rites, taking her as his lawful wife.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• आहूय: having called/summoned
• Type: Verb
• Root: आह्वा
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपद (usage)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उतथ्यम्: Utathya (proper name)
• उतथ्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उतथ्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ददौ: gave
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अत्रिः: Atri (sage)
• अत्रिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्रि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अयशस्विनीम्: not-famous/ill-famed (fem.)
• अयशस्विनीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अयशस्विनी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• भार्यार्थे: for the purpose of a wife (as wife-purpose)
• भार्यार्थे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्य + अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• जग्राह: accepted/took
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• विधिवत्: according to rule/ritually
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत्

• भूरिदक्षिणः: one having abundant fees/gifts
• भूरिदक्षिणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूरि + दक्षिण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Atri
• Soma
• Utathya
• Bhadrā (granddaughter of Atri)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic marriage as a regulated social-sacral act: the bride is given by the guardian with consent and propriety, and the groom accepts her through prescribed rites, accompanied by dakṣiṇā—ethical generosity that supports ritual order and social responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Atri summons the sage Utathya and formally gives him his famed granddaughter Bhadrā in marriage. Utathya accepts her hand in the proper ritual manner and provides abundant dakṣiṇā, completing the lawful marriage arrangement.