Shloka 38
Adhyāya 31: Rājasūya-samāgama — The Gathering of Kings and the Ordering of Hospitality
एवमनिनिवररं प्रादात् स्त्रीणामप्रतिवारणे । वरिण्यस्तत्र नार्यो हि यथेष्टं विचरन्त्युत
evam anivāraṇaṁ prādāt strīṇām aprativāraṇe | variṇyas tatra nāryo hi yatheṣṭaṁ vicaranty uta ||
इस प्रकार (अग्निदेव ने) स्त्रियों को ऐसा अवरोध-रहित वरदान दिया कि कोई भी उन्हें रोक न सके। इसलिए वहाँ की स्त्रियाँ अपनी इच्छा के अनुसार विचरतीं और स्वयं ही वर का वरण करती थीं।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic principle of non-coercion in marriage: women are granted the right to choose for themselves, and social power should not obstruct that choice.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Agni granted a boon ensuring women could not be prevented from choosing a husband; consequently, the women in that setting freely moved about to make their own selection.