Shloka 21
Haryaśva’s Agreement with Gālava and the Birth of Vasumanā
Nārada’s narration
इयं शुल्केन भार्यार्थ हर्यश्व प्रतिगृह्मताम् शुल्कं ते कीर्तयिष्यामि तच्छूत्वा सम्प्रधार्यताम्
iyaṁ śulkena bhāryārtha haryaśva pratigṛhṇatām | śulkaṁ te kīrtayiṣyāmi tac chrutvā sampradhāryatām ||
नारद बोले—“हे हर्यश्व! इस कन्या को शुल्क देकर पत्नी रूप में स्वीकार करो। मैं पहले तुम्हें इसका शुल्क बताऊँगा; उसे सुनकर भली-भाँति विचार कर जो उचित हो, वही निश्चय करना।”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes dharmic decision-making: before undertaking a socially weighty act like marriage, one should hear the conditions clearly and then choose with careful reflection (sampradhāraṇā), rather than acting impulsively.
Nārada addresses King Haryaśva, offering a maiden in marriage on the condition of a specified śulka (bride-price). He announces that he will state the required payment first, and urges the king to decide only after hearing and considering it.