Shloka 25
Akṛtavraṇa’s Account Begins: Gādhi–Satyavatī–Ṛcīka and the Bhārgava Lineage Prelude
ऋचीक उवाच एकत: श्यामकर्णाना पाण्डुराणां तरस्विनाम् | दास्याम्यश्वसहस्ं ते मम भार्या सुतास्तु ते,ऋचीक बोले--राजन्! मैं आपको एक ओरसे श्याम कर्णवाले पाण्डुरंगके वेगशाली अश्व एक हजारकी संख्यामें अर्पित करूँगा। आपकी पुत्री मेरी धर्मपत्नी बने
ṛcīka uvāca | ekataḥ śyāma-karṇānāṃ pāṇḍurāṇāṃ tarasvinām | dāsyāmy aśva-sahasraṃ te mama bhāryā sutāstu te ||
R̥cīka berkata: “Wahai raja, akan kupersembahkan kepadamu seribu ekor kuda yang tangkas—berwarna pucat, bertelinga gelap sebelah. Sebagai balasan, biarlah puterimu menjadi isteriku yang sah menurut dharma.”
ऋचीक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic marriage as a socially regulated bond, framed here through a negotiated exchange: the offer of valuable horses is presented as a legitimate means to seek a lawful wife, reflecting norms of alliance, consent, and status in epic society.
Sage R̥cīka addresses a king and proposes marriage to the king’s daughter, offering a thousand swift, pale horses with dark ears as the gift/consideration, and asks that the daughter be given to him as his lawful wife.