Shloka 39

Dāyavibhāga (Inheritance Apportionment) and Household Precedence — Dialogue of Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīṣma

Devanagari script

गृहीतपाणिरेका5<सीत्‌ _प्राप्तशुल्का पराभवत्‌ | कन्या गृहीता तत्रैव विसर्ज्या इति मे पिता

Transliteration

gṛhītapāṇir ekā āsīt prāptaśulkā parābhavat | kanyā gṛhītā tatraiva visarjyā iti me pitā |

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ସେମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରୁ ଗୋଟିଏ କନ୍ୟାର ପାଣିଗ୍ରହଣ ପୂର୍ବରୁ ହୋଇଥିଲା; ଅନ୍ୟ କନ୍ୟା ବିଷୟରେ କାଶିରାଜ ଶୁଳ୍କ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିଥିଲେ। ତେଣୁ ମୋ ପିତା (ବଂଶର ଜ୍ୟେଷ୍ଠ) ସେଠାରେ କହିଲେ—“ଯାହାର ପାଣିଗ୍ରହଣ ହୋଇଛି, ସେ କନ୍ୟାକୁ ଏଠାରେ ମୁକ୍ତ କର; ଅନ୍ୟ କନ୍ୟାଙ୍କ ସହ ବିବାହ କର।” କିନ୍ତୁ ଏହି କଥାରେ ମୋତେ ସନ୍ଦେହ ହେଲା; ତେଣୁ ମୁଁ ଅନ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଧର୍ମନିର୍ଣ୍ଣୟ ପଚାରିଲି।

Word by Word

• गृहीतपाणिः: having (already) taken the hand; handfast (married/engaged)
• गृहीतपाणिः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गृहीतपाणि
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• एका: one (girl)
• एका: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• आसीत्: was
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• प्राप्तशुल्का: for whom the bride-price had been received
• प्राप्तशुल्का: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राप्तशुल्क
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• पराभवत्: was set aside/was rejected; was defeated (contextually: became invalid)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पराभू
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Ambā
• Śālva (Śālvarāja)
• Kāśirāja (King of Kāśī)
• Bāhlīka (Kuru elder, as per the given context)
• Kāśī

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma as a careful weighing of competing marital claims: a prior personal commitment (pāṇigrahaṇa/accepted husband) can override later force or arrangement, while a mere financial transaction (śulka received) creates a different kind of obligation. Bhishma also models ethical caution by seeking clarification when unsure.

What is happening in the narrative?

After the Kāśī princesses are brought to the Kuru side, it is disclosed that Ambā has already mentally/ritually accepted Śālva. The family elder rules that she should be released, while the others—whose marriage arrangements are tied to the received śulka—should proceed to marriage. Bhishma admits doubt and consults others about the correct dharma.