Shloka 51
Āṇīmāṇḍavya–Upākhyāna
The Account of Āṇīmāṇḍavya and the Birth of Vidura
पर्यपूच्छत् ततस्तस्या: पितरं सो55त्मकारणात् | सचतं प्रत्युवाचेदं दाशराजो महीपतिम्,उन्होंने उसके पितासे पूछा--“मैं अपने लिये तुम्हारी कन्या चाहता हूँ।' यह सुनकर निषादराजने राजा शान्तनुको यह उत्तर दिया--
paryapṛcchat tataḥ tasyāḥ pitaraṃ so ’tmakāraṇāt | sa ca taṃ pratyuvācedaṃ dāśarājo mahīpatim |
Entonces, movido por su propio propósito, interrogó al padre de ella. Al oír la petición del rey—«Deseo a tu hija para mí»—Daśarāja, señor de los pescadores, respondió al rey Śāntanu con palabras meditadas.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical deliberation in marriage alliances: personal desire must be negotiated through responsibility to family, social order, and the long-term security of the bride, especially when kingship and succession are implicated.
King Śāntanu asks the girl’s father (Daśarāja, chief of the fishermen) for her hand. Daśarāja then begins his response, setting up the conditions and concerns that will shape the marriage negotiations.