Shloka 19
Dāyavibhāga (Inheritance Apportionment) and Household Precedence — Dialogue of Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīṣma
युधिछिर उवाच शुल्कमन्येन दत्तं स्याद् ददानीत्याह चापर: । बलादन्य: प्रभाषेत धनमन्य: प्रदर्शयेत्
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca— śulkam anyena dattaṃ syād dadānīty āha cāparaḥ | balād anyaḥ prabhāṣeta dhanam anyaḥ pradarśayet |
ユディシュティラは言った。「祖父よ、ある男はすでに花嫁代を支払い、別の男は『支払う』との約束で縁組を固め、第三の男は力ずくで娘を連れ去ると言い、さらに別の男はより多くの財を示して親族の同意を得ようとする――その一方で第五の男はすでに婚礼の執手（パーニグラハナ）を行っているとすれば、ダルマに照らして、その乙女は誰の妻と見なされるべきでしょうか。私どもはこの件の真の原理を知りたいのです。どうか我らの眼となり、導き手となってください。」
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharma-legal problem: when multiple men assert competing claims over a maiden through payment, promise, wealth inducement, coercion, or completed ritual, which claim is valid. It invites a principled hierarchy of legitimacy—privileging lawful procedure and completed sacramental acts over mere promises, bribery, or force.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira consults Bhīṣma on subtle points of conduct. Here he presents a complex marriage dispute with several claimants and asks Bhīṣma to determine, according to dharma, who should be regarded as the rightful husband.