Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 51
अप्रयच्छन्समाप्नोति भूणहत्यामृतावृतौ । स्वयं त्वभावे दातॄणां कन्या कुर्यात्स्वयं वरम्
aprayacchansamāpnoti bhūṇahatyāmṛtāvṛtau | svayaṃ tvabhāve dātṝṇāṃ kanyā kuryātsvayaṃ varam
Quien retiene (a la doncella, negándose a entregarla a su debido tiempo) incurre en un pecado semejante al de matar al feto, una y otra vez conforme pasa la estación propicia. Pero si no hay dadores o tutores idóneos, la doncella misma puede elegir esposo mediante svayaṃvara.
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Listener: null
Scene: Two-part moral scene: (1) a guardian refusing proposals as seasons pass, shadowed by a dark karmic cloud; (2) a dignified svayaṃvara hall where the maiden garlands her chosen husband in the absence of guardians.
FAQs
It stresses responsibility and timeliness in dharmic duties, while also providing a lawful alternative when guardians are absent.
No specific tīrtha is mentioned; the verse is normative dharma instruction within Kāśī Khaṇḍa.
It prescribes that a maiden should be duly given in marriage; if no guardians exist, svayaṃvara is permitted.