Shloka 16
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 103 — Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Gāndhārī Vivāha: Proposal, Consent, and the Vow
स्वयंवरं तु राजन्या: प्रशंसन्त्युपयान्ति च | प्रमथ्य तु हृतामाहुज्यायसीं धर्मवादिन:,"क्षत्रिय स्वयंवरकी प्रशंसा करते और उसमें जाते हैं; परंतु उसमें भी समस्त राजाओंको परास्त करके जिस कन्याका अपहरण किया जाता है, धर्मवादी दिद्वान क्षत्रियके लिये उसे सबसे श्रेष्ठ मानते हैं
svayaṃvaraṃ tu rājanyāḥ praśaṃsanty upayānti ca | pramathya tu hṛtām āhur jyāyasīṃ dharmavādinaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dijo: «Los kṣatriyas alaban el rito del svayaṃvara y acuden a él. Pero los expositores del dharma declaran que, para un guerrero, el camino más alto es apoderarse de la doncella después de haber vencido a todos los reyes rivales.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts two kṣatriya-accepted marriage modes: attending a svayaṃvara versus winning the bride by overpowering rival kings. It frames the latter as ‘higher’ from a kṣatriya-dharma perspective, emphasizing valor and dominance as ethical ideals within that warrior code.
Vaiśampāyana comments on prevailing royal customs: warriors publicly honor svayaṃvaras and participate in them, yet dharma-discoursers also recognize a competing norm—carrying off the maiden after defeating all contenders—as an especially esteemed practice for kṣatriyas.