Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 19
कर्णोत्पलोवाच । यद्येवं स्मर मत्तातं तं गत्वा प्रार्थय स्वयम् । स्वच्छंदा स्याद्यतः कन्या न कथंचित्प्रवर्तिता
karṇotpalovāca | yadyevaṃ smara mattātaṃ taṃ gatvā prārthaya svayam | svacchaṃdā syādyataḥ kanyā na kathaṃcitpravartitā
Karṇotpalā dit : «S’il en est ainsi, ô Smara, va toi-même et adresse ta demande à mon père. Car une jeune fille doit être libre dans son choix et ne doit en aucune manière être contrainte».
Karṇotpalā
Scene: Karṇotpalā speaks with calm firmness, advising Kāma to approach her father; her posture conveys dignity and autonomy, tempering Kāma’s urgency.
FAQs
Dharma requires proper conduct in marriage: respectful request to guardians and the principle that a maiden should not be coerced.
No tīrtha is named in this verse; it is part of a larger tīrtha-māhātmya narrative frame.
A social-dharmic prescription: the suitor should formally seek consent through the father/guardian; coercion is rejected.