Shloka 3

Dāyavibhāga (Inheritance Apportionment) and Household Precedence — Dialogue of Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīṣma

Devanagari script

भीष्म उवाच शीलवृत्ते समाज्ञाय विद्यां योनिं च कर्म च । सद्/रिरेवं प्रदातव्या कन्या गुणयुते वरे

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | śīla-vṛtte samājñāya vidyāṁ yoniṁ ca karma ca | sadṛśaṁ evaṁ pradātavyā kanyā guṇayute vare ||

Translation

Bhīṣma berkata: “Anakku, terlebih dahulu selidikilah calon mempelai pria: watak dan perilakunya, ilmunya, garis keturunannya, serta tindak-tanduknya. Bila ia tampak berbudi luhur dari segala sisi, barulah putri patut dianugerahkan kepadanya.”

Word by Word

• {'bhīṣma uvāca': 'Bhishma said', 'śīla': 'character, disposition, moral nature', 'vṛtta': 'conduct, behavior, way of life', 'samājñāya': 'having ascertained, having examined and understood', 'vidyā': 'learning, education, knowledge', 'yoni': 'birth, lineage, family origin', 'karma': 'actions, deeds

• practical conduct', 'sadṛśam': 'suitable, fitting, well-matched', 'evam': 'thus, in this manner', 'pradātavyā': 'should be given (to be bestowed in marriage)', 'kanyā': 'maiden, daughter', 'guṇayuta': 'endowed with virtues/qualities', 'vara': 'bridegroom, suitor'}

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• kanyā (maiden/daughter)
• vara (bridegroom/suitor)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Before giving a daughter in marriage, one must carefully examine the suitor’s character and conduct, learning, lineage, and actions; only a truly virtuous and suitable man should be accepted.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma is instructing on dharma related to marriage arrangements, emphasizing due scrutiny of the prospective groom’s qualities and background before bestowing the maiden.