Shloka 20
Haryaśva’s Agreement with Gālava and the Birth of Vasumanā
Nārada’s narration
तमुपागम्य विप्र: स हर्यश्वंं गालवोडब्रवीत् । कन्येयं मम राजेन्द्र प्रसवैः: कुलवर्धिनी
tam upāgamya vipraḥ sa haryaśvaṃ gālavo ’bravīt | kanye ’yaṃ mama rājendra prasavaiḥ kulavardhinī |
Mendekati Raja Haryaśva, Brahmana Gālava berkata: “Wahai tuan segala raja, gadis ini milikku akan menambah zuriat dan memakmurkan keturunan melalui anak-anaknya. Terimalah dia sebagai isteri dengan membayar mas kahwin. Mula-mula akan aku nyatakan kadar bayaran untuknya; setelah mendengarnya, tentukanlah jalan kewajipanmu.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharma in social transactions: even in matters like marriage and bride-price, one should act with clarity, disclose conditions openly, and then choose one’s duty after informed deliberation.
Nārada narrates that the Brahmin Gālava approaches King Haryaśva and offers his maiden in marriage, emphasizing her role in continuing the lineage, and announces that he will first state the required bride-price so the king can decide his proper course.