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Shloka 22

Khāṇḍava-dāha: Indra’s Countermeasures and the Nāga Aśvasena’s Escape (आदि पर्व, अध्याय २१८)

प्रसह हरणं चापि क्षत्रियाणां प्रशस्यते । विवाहहेतु: शूराणामिति धर्मविदो विदु:,बलपूर्वक कनन्‍्याका हरण भी शूरवीर क्षत्रियोंके लिये विवाहका उत्तम हेतु कहा गया है; ऐसा धर्मज्ञ पुरुषोंका मत है

prasaha haraṇaṃ cāpi kṣatriyāṇāṃ praśasyate | vivāhahetuḥ śūrāṇām iti dharmavido viduḥ ||

Dijo Vāyu: «Incluso el arrebato por la fuerza (de la novia) es alabado entre los kṣatriyas. Los conocedores del dharma sostienen que, para los valerosos, tal acto puede servir como fundamento legítimo para el matrimonio.»

प्रसहforcibly, by force
प्रसह:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootप्रसह
हरणम्abduction, carrying off
हरणम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootहरण
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अपिalso, even
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
क्षत्रियाणाम्of Kshatriyas
क्षत्रियाणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootक्षत्रिय
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
प्रशस्यतेis praised, is commended
प्रशस्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootशंस्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Atmanepada, Passive
विवाहहेतुःa cause/means of marriage
विवाहहेतुः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootविवाहहेतु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
शूराणाम्of heroes, of the brave
शूराणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootशूर
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
इतिthus, as (quotative)
इति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति
धर्मविदःknowers of dharma
धर्मविदः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधर्मविद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
विदुःknow, hold (as an opinion)
विदुः:
TypeVerb
Rootविद्
FormPerfect, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

वायुदेव उवाच

V
Vāyu (Vāyudeva)
K
kṣatriyas
D
dharma-vids (knowers of dharma)

Educational Q&A

The verse articulates a traditional dharma-śāstra viewpoint: within kṣatriya norms, even a forceful carrying off of a bride can be socially commended and treated as a basis for marriage, as held by authorities on dharma.

Vāyudeva is speaking and justifying a kṣatriya-accepted practice regarding marriage—specifically, that forcible abduction may be regarded as an approved marriage-ground for the brave—framing it as the opinion of dharma-knowers.