Shloka 9
Dāyavibhāga (Inheritance Apportionment) and Household Precedence — Dialogue of Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīṣma
पज्चानां तु त्रयो धर्म्या द्वावधर्म्यों युधिष्ठिर । पैशाचश्चासुरश्चैव न कर्तव्यो कथंचन
pañcānāṁ tu trayo dharmyā dvāv adharmyau yudhiṣṭhira | paiśācaś cāsuraś caiva na kartavyo kathaṁcana ||
Bhīṣma said: “Of the five forms of marriage, O Yudhiṣṭhira, three are in accordance with dharma, while two are contrary to dharma. The Paiśāca and the Āsura forms should never be practiced under any circumstances.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma classifies the five traditional marriage forms and gives a clear ethical rule: only the dharma-sanctioned forms should be followed, while Paiśāca and Āsura are explicitly forbidden as adharmic.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma addresses Yudhiṣṭhira and lays down social-ethical guidance regarding marriage, distinguishing acceptable practices from those that must be avoided.