Shloka 14
Manu Offers Devahūti to Kardama; The Sage Accepts with a Devotional Vow
अहं त्वाशृणवं विद्वन् विवाहार्थं समुद्यतम् । अतस्त्वमुपकुर्वाण: प्रत्तां प्रतिगृहाण मे ॥ १४ ॥
ahaṁ tvāśṛṇavaṁ vidvan vivāhārthaṁ samudyatam atas tvam upakurvāṇaḥ prattāṁ pratigṛhāṇa me
Svāyambhuva Manu dit : «Ô sage, j’ai appris que tu étais prêt pour le mariage. Puisque tu n’as pas fait vœu de brahmacarya perpétuel, reçois de ma main la main de ma fille que je t’offre.»
The principle of brahmacarya is celibacy. There are two kinds of brahmacārīs. One is called naiṣṭhika-brahmacārī, which means one who takes a vow of celibacy for his whole life, whereas the other, the upakurvāṇa-brahmacārī, is a brahmacārī who takes the vow of celibacy up to a certain age. For example, he may take the vow to remain celibate up to twenty-five years of age; then, with the permission of his spiritual master, he enters married life. Brahmacarya is student life, the beginning of life in the spiritual orders, and the principle of brahmacarya is celibacy. Only a householder can indulge in sense gratification or sex life, not a brahmacārī. Svāyambhuva Manu requested Kardama Muni to accept his daughter, since Kardama had not taken the vow of naiṣṭhika-brahmacarya. He was willing to marry, and the suitable daughter of a high royal family was presented.
FAQs
In this verse, Svāyambhuva Manu acknowledges that Kardama Muni is preparing for marriage and, following dharma, requests him to accept an offered gift—showing that household life is supported through righteous, respectful exchanges.
Manu sought Kardama Muni as a suitable husband for his daughter Devahūti and, seeing his readiness for marriage, requested the sage to accept Manu’s offering as part of the proper social and dharmic etiquette surrounding the alliance.
Approach major life transitions (like marriage) with integrity and respect—offer help without pride, and accept support gracefully when it is given in a righteous spirit.