Shloka 12
Adhyāya 96: Nārada Guides Mātali in Varuṇa’s Realm
Varuṇa-loka Darśana
इस प्रसंगमें कन्यादान करनेके लिये वर ढूँढ़नेवाले मातलिके इस प्राचीन इतिहासका उदाहरण दिया करते हैं ।।
mataḥ trailokyarājasya mātalināma sārathiḥ | tasyākaivā kule kanyā rūpato lokaviśrutā ||
Kaṇva berkata: “Ada suatu teladan purba yang sering disebut orang apabila mencari calon suami yang layak untuk menyerahkan seorang puteri dalam perkahwinan. Kusir kereta Indra, raja bagi tiga alam, bernama Mātali. Dalam keturunannya hanya ada seorang anak perempuan, masyhur di seluruh dunia kerana kecantikannya.”
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames marriage (especially kanyādāna) as a dharmic act guided by precedent and careful selection: families cite exemplary ancient histories to justify and refine the search for a worthy bridegroom, emphasizing responsibility toward lineage and social order.
Kaṇva introduces an old, well-known story used as an example in discussions of arranging a daughter’s marriage. He begins by identifying Mātali, Indra’s charioteer, and notes that Mātali had a single daughter celebrated for her beauty—setting the stage for the ensuing account of finding her a suitable match.