Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 66
यो दत्त्वा कन्यकां वाचा पश्चाद्धरति दुर्मतिः । स याति नरकं चेति धर्मशास्त्रेषु निश्चितम्
yo dattvā kanyakāṃ vācā paścāddharati durmatiḥ | sa yāti narakaṃ ceti dharmaśāstreṣu niścitam
Celui qui, après avoir donné une jeune fille par parole engagée, la reprend ensuite—l’esprit mauvais—va en enfer : ainsi l’ont fixé fermement les Dharmaśāstras.
The cursed petitioner (unnamed in the snippet)
Listener: A brāhmaṇa interlocutor (e.g., Vyāsa/Śaunaka-frame typical of Purāṇic narration; specific listener not explicit in this verse)
Scene: A solemn dharma-court-like moment: a brāhmaṇa/muni confronted with the consequence of retracting a pledged kanyā-dāna; scriptures or sages as witnesses; atmosphere of moral dread.
FAQs
Breaking a solemn promise—especially in sacred social rites like marriage—has grave spiritual consequences.
No site is glorified in this verse.
It references the dharmic rule surrounding kanyādāna by word (vācā) and forbids withdrawing it after pledging.