Shloka 26
Dāyavibhāga (Inheritance Apportionment) and Household Precedence — Dialogue of Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīṣma
यस्त्वत्र मन्त्रसमयो भारयपत्योर्मिथ: कृत: । तमेवाहुर्गरीयांसं यश्चासौ ज्ञातिभि: कृत:
yas tv atra mantrasamayo bhāryāpatyor mithaḥ kṛtaḥ | tam evāhur garīyāṁsaṁ yaś cāsau jñātibhiḥ kṛtaḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: Di antara bentuk-bentuk ikatan pernikahan, janji yang diikrarkan secara timbal balik oleh suami dan istri dengan tata cara ritual serta lantunan mantera suci dipandang paling berbobot. Dan bila ikatan itu pula diteguhkan serta didukung oleh para kerabat, ia dinilai lebih terpuji—sebab ia memadukan sumpah pribadi dengan pengesahan sosial dan keteguhan tatanan.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A marital bond is strongest when it is a mutual vow solemnized through proper ritual (mantra-recitation). Its ethical force becomes even firmer when the wider family (kinsmen) also affirms it, joining personal commitment with social responsibility.
Bhishma is instructing on dharma-related norms, explaining which kind of marital commitment is considered most authoritative: the spouses’ ritually sanctified mutual pledge, especially when supported by relatives.