Shloka 2
Varṇasaṃkara: Causes, Classifications, and Conduct-based Recognition (वर्णसंकरः—हेतु-जाति-आचारनिर्णयः)
भीष्म उवाच या पुत्रकस्य ऋद्धस्य प्रतिपाल्या तदा भवेत् | अथ चेन्नाहरेच्छुल्क॑ क्रीता शुल्कप्रदस्य सा
bhīṣma uvāca yā putrakasya ṛddhasya pratipālyā tadā bhavet | atha cen nāharec chulkaṃ krītā śulkapradasya sā ||
ビーシュマは言った。「ユディシュティラよ、もし子のない富裕な男から花嫁代を受け取ったのなら、その金が返されるまで、また彼が戻るまで、父はあらゆる面で娘を守り養う義務がある。代金が返されぬかぎり、その乙女は—代価によって『買われた』ものとして—それを支払った者に属すると見なされる。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Accepting a bride-price creates a binding obligation: until the payment is returned, the guardian must protect the maiden, and failure to repay implies the transaction stands, making her legally/ritually associated with the payer. The emphasis is on accountability, protection of the vulnerable, and integrity in agreements.
In his instruction to Yudhishthira on dharma, Bhishma discusses a case involving a maiden for whom a bride-price has been taken. He clarifies the guardian’s duty of protection and the legal-ethical consequence if the bride-price is not returned.