Shloka 45
Dāyavibhāga (Inheritance Apportionment) and Household Precedence — Dialogue of Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīṣma
प्रसिद्ध भाषितं दाने नैषां प्रत्यायकं पुन: । ये मन्यन्ते क्रयं शुल्क न ते धर्मविदो नरा:
bhīṣma uvāca | prasiddhaṃ bhāṣitaṃ dāne naiṣāṃ pratyāyakaṃ punaḥ | ye manyante krayaṃ śulkaṃ na te dharmavido narāḥ |
Bhishma dit : « En matière de don —et surtout du don d’une fille— circule parmi les hommes un dicton bien connu : tous parlent d’un “don de la fille”. Dès lors, pour ceux qui tiennent le mariage pour établi par une simple somme ou un prix d’achat, il n’existe aucune preuve sûre capable d’accréditer leur prétention. Les hommes qui reconnaissent l’“achat” et le “prix de la mariée” comme faisant autorité ne sont pas des connaisseurs du dharma. »
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Marriage involving a daughter should be understood in the ethical frame of dāna (gift), not as a commercial transaction; treating it as purchase or fee-based undermines dharma and lacks true moral authority.
Bhishma is instructing on dharma and social conduct, rejecting the idea that a marriage is validated by payment (śulka/kraya) and affirming the culturally and morally recognized notion of kanyādāna (giving the maiden) as the proper understanding.