Shloka 50
वंशस्मरण-फलम्, वैशालिका-प्रसङ्गः, रेवती-बलदेव-विवाहः, विष्णु-परतत्त्व-स्तुतिः
पुनश् च प्रणम्य भगवते तस्मै यथाभिमतान् आत्मनः स वरान् कथयाम् आस । क एषां भगवतो ऽभिमतो यस्मै कन्याम् इमां प्रयच्छामीति ॥
punaś ca praṇamya bhagavate tasmai yathābhimatān ātmanaḥ sa varān kathayām āsa | ka eṣāṃ bhagavato 'bhimato yasmai kanyām imāṃ prayacchāmīti ||
And once again, bowing to that Blessed Lord, he spoke of the boons he desired: “Which among these is most pleasing to the Lord, to whom I should give this maiden in marriage?”
Parāśara (narrating; the verse reports a character’s speech within his narration)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: How Revatī’s marriage was decided through Brahmā’s counsel.
Teaching: Historical
Quality: revealing
Concept: True choice (especially in dharmic rites like kanyā-dāna) is guided by reverence and right discernment, not merely personal desire.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Before committing to major relationships or responsibilities, practice humility, seek wise counsel, and align decisions with enduring values.
Vishishtadvaita: The act of praṇāma and petition underscores dependence on higher order; dharma is received as guidance within the Lord-governed cosmos, not invented by the individual.
Dharma Exemplar: Vinaya (humility) and dharma-jijñāsā (seeking righteous discernment) in arranging marriage.
Key Kings: Brahmā, Revatī, Kakudmī (implied)
Bhakti Type: dasya
FAQs
This verse highlights that even major social and dynastic acts—like giving a daughter in marriage—are ideally aligned with Bhagavān’s will, reinforcing divine sovereignty over human choice.
Parāśara frames the episode as an act preceded by reverence (praṇāma) and guided by the Lord’s preference, showing that dharmic action flows from devotion and submission to the Supreme.
Vishnu (as Bhagavān) is implicitly the supreme arbiter: the ‘most pleasing to the Lord’ becomes the criterion, reflecting a Vaishnava view where ultimate legitimacy rests in the Supreme Reality’s sanction.