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 ||
ಭೀಷ್ಮನು ಹೇಳಿದನು— ಓ ರಾಜನೇ! ರಾಜಕನ್ಯೆ ಸುದರ್ಶನೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಸాక్షಾತ್ ಅಗ್ನಿದೇವನು ಮೋಹಗೊಂಡನು. ನಂತರ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣನ ರೂಪವನ್ನು ಧರಿಸಿ, ಆ ನೃಪನ ಬಳಿಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ, ವಿಧಿಪೂರ್ವಕವಾಗಿ ಆ ಕನ್ಯೆಯನ್ನು ವಿವಾಹಾರ್ಥವಾಗಿ ಬೇಡಿಕೊಂಡನು.
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.