Shloka 21
Chapter 2: Sudarśana Upākhyāna — Atithi-Dharma and the Conquest of Mṛtyu
Gṛhastha-Vrata
तामग्निश्चकमे साक्षाद् राजकन्यां सुदर्शनाम् । भूत्वा च ब्राह्मणो राजन् वरयामास तं नृपम्
tām agniś cakame sākṣād rājakaṇyāṃ sudarśanām | bhūtvā ca brāhmaṇo rājan varayāmāsa taṃ nṛpam ||
ビーシュマは言った。「火神アグニそのものが、王女スダルシャナーに心を奪われた。王よ、彼は婆羅門の姿に身を変え、その君主のもとへ赴き、礼法に則って正式に姫を妻として求めた。この段は、欲が神すら動かし得ることを示しつつも、求婚が社会に認められた手続—訪れ、請い、同意を得る—によって遂げられることを語り、婚姻における正しい手段のダルマ的重みを際立たせている。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when powerful desire arises, dharma emphasizes pursuing aims through legitimate, socially and ethically sanctioned means—here, a formal request for marriage rather than coercion.
Agni becomes attracted to the princess Sudarśanā, takes on the appearance of a brāhmaṇa, and approaches her father (the king) to ask for her hand in marriage.