Shloka 31
Śānti-parva Adhyāya 30: Nārada–Parvata Samaya-bhaṅga, Śāpa, and the Marriage of Sukumārī
धर्मेण विप्रप्रवर: सुकुमारीमनिन्दिताम् । इधर विप्रवर नारदजीने उस अनिन्द्य सुन्दरी सुंजय-कुमारी सुकुमारीको धर्मके अनुसार पत्नीरूपमें प्राप्त किया ।। सा तु कन्या यथाशापं नारदं तं ददर्श ह,पाणिग्रहणमन्त्राणां नियोगादेव नारदम् | वैवाहिक मन्त्रोंका प्रयोग होते ही वह राजकन्या शापके अनुसार नारद मुनिको वानराकार मुखसे युक्त देखने लगी
dharmeṇa viprapravaraḥ sukumārīmaninditām | idhar vipravara nāradajīne us anindya-sundarī saṁjaya-kumārī sukumārīko dharmake anusār patnīrūpameṁ prāpta kiyā || sā tu kanyā yathāśāpaṁ nāradaṁ taṁ dadarśa ha, pāṇigrahaṇa-mantrāṇāṁ niyogādeva nāradam | vaivāhika-mantrōṁkā prayoga hote hī vah rāja-kanyā śāpake anusār nārada muniko vānarākāra-mukhase yukta dekhne lagī
Menurut dharma, brāhmaṇa terunggul Nārada memperoleh sebagai istri Sukumārī yang tak bercela, putri raja Sūñjaya. Namun begitu tata upacara pernikahan dimulai—ketika mantra-mantra penganugerahan tangan (pāṇigrahaṇa) ditetapkan dan dilantunkan—sesuai kutukan, sang putri melihat Nārada berwajah laksana kera.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when actions follow dharma and proper ritual, the momentum of a prior śāpa (curse) can manifest; dharma is then shown not merely in correct procedure but in how one responds with steadiness, restraint, and integrity when adverse consequences arise.
Nārada, described as a foremost brāhmaṇa, lawfully obtains the blameless maiden Sukumārī in marriage. At the moment the marriage hand-taking mantras are applied, the maiden—due to an earlier curse—perceives Nārada as having a monkey-like face.