Shloka 17
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 158 — Aṅgāraparṇa-saṃvāda and Gaṅgā-tīrtha Saṃghaṭṭa
Encounter at the Gaṅgā ford
तां चैदहं न दित्सेयं त्वद्गुणैरुपबृंहिताम् । प्रमथ्यैनां हरेयुस्ते हविर्ध्वाड्क्षा इवाध्वरात्,आपके ही उत्तम गुणोंसे सम्पन्न अपनी इस पुत्रीको यदि मैं उन अयोग्य पुरुषोंके हाथमें न देना चाहूँगी तो वे बलपूर्वक इसे उसी प्रकार हर ले जायँगे, जैसे कौए यज्ञसे हविष्यका भाग लेकर उड़ जायेँ
tāṃ caid ahaṃ na ditsyeyaṃ tvad-guṇair upabṛṃhitām | pramathyaināṃ hareyus te havirdhvāṅkṣā ivādhvarāt ||
«Et si je refusais de donner ma fille—ornée et affermie par tes excellentes qualités—à ces hommes indignes, ils la saisiraient de force et l’emporteraient, comme des corbeaux dérobent la part de havis (l’oblation) au sacrifice.»
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic concern: when rightful guardianship and proper eligibility are ignored, the strong may resort to coercion. It condemns unworthy claimants and frames forced seizure as a moral disorder, likened to crows stealing sacred offerings.
A Brahmin explains that if he refuses to give his virtuous daughter to unworthy men, they may abduct her by force—just as crows snatch the oblation from a sacrifice—indicating social pressure and the threat of violence overriding proper marital norms.