Shloka 21
Chapter 2: Sudarśana Upākhyāna — Atithi-Dharma and the Conquest of Mṛtyu
Gṛhastha-Vrata
तामग्निश्चकमे साक्षाद् राजकन्यां सुदर्शनाम् । भूत्वा च ब्राह्मणो राजन् वरयामास तं नृपम्
tām agniś cakame sākṣād rājakaṇyāṃ sudarśanām | bhūtvā ca brāhmaṇo rājan varayāmāsa taṃ nṛpam ||
Bhishma dijo: «Agni en persona se enamoró de la princesa Sudarśanā. Oh rey, tomando la apariencia de un brahmán, se presentó ante aquel soberano y, conforme al rito, solicitó a la doncella en matrimonio. El episodio muestra que el deseo puede mover incluso a un dios, pero la búsqueda se encuadra en el proceder socialmente legítimo —acercarse, pedir y obtener consentimiento—, subrayando el peso ético de los medios rectos en materia de bodas.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when powerful desire arises, dharma emphasizes pursuing aims through legitimate, socially and ethically sanctioned means—here, a formal request for marriage rather than coercion.
Agni becomes attracted to the princess Sudarśanā, takes on the appearance of a brāhmaṇa, and approaches her father (the king) to ask for her hand in marriage.