Shloka 4
Śulka, Kanyā, and Dauhitra-Riktha: Discourse on Bride-Price and Inheritance Rights (शुल्क-कन्या-दौहित्र-रिक्थविचारः)
अथ काले व्यतिक्रान्ते कस्मिंश्चित् कुरुनन्दन । रुच्या भगिन्या आदानं प्रभूतधनधान्यवत्
atha kāle vyatikrānte kasmiṁścit kurunandana | rucyā bhaginyā ādānaṁ prabhūtadhana-dhānyavat ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai kebanggaan kaum Kuru, setelah beberapa waktu berlalu, tibalah kesempatan perayaan pernikahan di rumah kakak perempuan Ruci—sebuah hajatan yang menuntut pengeluaran besar berupa harta dan bahan pangan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames dharma in everyday social life: major rites like marriage are legitimate, resource-intensive obligations, and fulfilling them responsibly reflects householders’ duty toward family and society.
Bhishma continues his account by noting that after some time, a marriage celebration arose at the home of Ruci’s elder sister, requiring considerable expenditure of wealth and provisions.