Shloka 17
तां चैदहं न दित्सेयं त्वद्गुणैरुपबृंहिताम् । प्रमथ्यैनां हरेयुस्ते हविर्ध्वाड्क्षा इवाध्वरात्,आपके ही उत्तम गुणोंसे सम्पन्न अपनी इस पुत्रीको यदि मैं उन अयोग्य पुरुषोंके हाथमें न देना चाहूँगी तो वे बलपूर्वक इसे उसी प्रकार हर ले जायँगे, जैसे कौए यज्ञसे हविष्यका भाग लेकर उड़ जायेँ
tāṃ caid ahaṃ na ditsyeyaṃ tvad-guṇair upabṛṃhitām | pramathyaināṃ hareyus te havirdhvāṅkṣā ivādhvarāt ||
“And if I should refuse to give this daughter of mine—adorned and strengthened by your excellent qualities—to those unworthy men, they would seize her by force and carry her off, just as crows snatch away the oblation from a sacrifice.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic concern: when rightful guardianship and proper eligibility are ignored, the strong may resort to coercion. It condemns unworthy claimants and frames forced seizure as a moral disorder, likened to crows stealing sacred offerings.
A Brahmin explains that if he refuses to give his virtuous daughter to unworthy men, they may abduct her by force—just as crows snatch the oblation from a sacrifice—indicating social pressure and the threat of violence overriding proper marital norms.