Shloka 20
पराशरस्य राक्षससत्रनिवृत्तिः | Paraśara’s Rakṣasa-Satra and Its Cessation
तपत्युवाच नाहमीशा55त्मनो राजन् कन्या पितृमती हाहम् | मयि चेदस्ति ते प्रीतिर्याचस्व पितरं मम,तपतीने कहा--राजन! मैं ऐसी कन्या हूँ, जिसके पिता विद्यमान हैं; अत: अपने इस शरीरपर मेरा कोई अधिकार नहीं है। यदि आपका मुझपर प्रेम है तो मेरे पिताजीसे मुझे माँग लीजिये
tapaty uvāca: nāham īśātmanaḥ rājan, kanyā pitṛmatī hāham | mayi ced asti te prītir, yācasva pitaraṃ mama ||
Tapatī said: “O King, I am not the mistress of my own person; I am a maiden whose father is living. Therefore I have no independent authority over myself. If you truly bear affection for me, then formally request me from my father.”
गन्धर्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes dharmic propriety in marriage: when a maiden is under her father’s guardianship, a suitor should proceed through lawful, respectful request to the guardian rather than treating the woman as an object of unilateral choice or possession.
Tapatī addresses a king who desires her, stating she lacks independent authority because her father is alive; she directs the king to seek her hand by formally approaching and requesting her from her father.