Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

शिष्टानां क्षत्रियाणां च धर्म एब सनातन: । युधिष्ठिर! इस प्रकार ब्याहने योग्य वरको बुलाकर उसके साथ कन्याका विवाह करना उत्तम ब्राह्मणोंका धर्म-ब्राह्मविवाह है। जो धन आदिके द्वारा वरपक्षको अनुकूल करके कन्यादान किया जाता है

Transliteration

śiṣṭānāṃ kṣatriyāṇāṃ ca dharma eṣa sanātanaḥ | yudhiṣṭhira! evaṃ vivāhane yogyaṃ varaṃ āhūya tena saha kanyāyā vivāhaḥ kartavya iti—eṣa brāhmaṇānāṃ śreṣṭhānāṃ dharmaḥ, brāhma-vivāhaḥ | yaḥ dhana-ādibhiḥ varapakṣaṃ anukūlya kṛtvā kanyādānaṃ kriyate, sa śiṣṭa-brāhmaṇa-kṣatriyāṇāṃ sanātano dharmaḥ smṛtaḥ (ayam eva prājāpatya-vivāhaḥ) | yadi vaḥ śulkato niṣṭhā na pāṇigrahaṇāt tathā | lājāntaram upāsīta prāptaśulka iti smṛtiḥ ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ହେ ଯୁଧିଷ୍ଠିର! ଶିଷ୍ଟଜନ ଓ କ୍ଷତ୍ରିୟମାନଙ୍କର ଏହା ସନାତନ ଧର୍ମ—ଯୋଗ୍ୟ ବରକୁ ଡାକି କନ୍ୟାକୁ ତାହାଙ୍କ ସହ ବିବାହ କରାଇଦେବା; ଏହାହିଁ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମ ବିବାହ, ଯାହାକୁ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣମାନେ ପ୍ରଶଂସା କରନ୍ତି। ଧନ ଆଦି ଦ୍ୱାରା ବରପକ୍ଷକୁ ଅନୁକୂଳ କରି କନ୍ୟାଦାନ କରାଯାଏ ଯେତେବେଳେ, ସେଥି ମଧ୍ୟ ଶିଷ୍ଟ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ-କ୍ଷତ୍ରିୟମାନଙ୍କ ପ୍ରାଚୀନ ଆଚାର; ଏହାକୁ ପ୍ରାଜାପତ୍ୟ ବିବାହ କୁହାଯାଏ। ସ୍ମୃତି କହେ—ଯାହାଙ୍କ ନିଷ୍ଠା ପାଣିଗ୍ରହଣରେ ନୁହେଁ, କେବଳ ଶୁଲ୍କରେ, ସେମାନେ ଅନ୍ୟ ବର ଖୋଜନ୍ତୁ; ସେମାନେ ‘ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ-ଶୁଲ୍କ’ ବୋଲି ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ।

Word by Word

• यदि: if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि

• वः: of you / your
• वः: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Plural

• शुल्कतः: from/with respect to bride-price (fee)
• शुल्कतः: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुल्क
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• निष्ठा: steadfastness / commitment
• निष्ठा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्ठा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• पाणिग्रहणात्: from the taking of the hand (marriage rite)
• पाणिग्रहणात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणिग्रहण
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• तथा: so / likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• लाजान्तरम्: the interval/space of parched grain (i.e., the laja-offering interval; a ritual marker)
• लाजान्तरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाजान्तर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उपासीत: should observe / should wait upon / should attend to
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आस्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• प्राप्तशुल्कः: one who has received the fee/bride-price
• प्राप्तशुल्कः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राप्तशुल्क
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• स्मृतिः: the tradition / Smriti text
• स्मृतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मृति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Yudhishthira
• Brahma-vivaha
• Prajapatya-vivaha
• Smriti

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse distinguishes approved marriage norms: marrying a maiden to a worthy groom (Brahma marriage) is ideal, while giving a daughter after making the groom’s side favorable through wealth is also treated as an established practice (identified here with Prajapatya). It cautions against treating marriage as a transaction centered on bride-price rather than the sacred rite.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Anushasana Parva’s dharma instruction, Bhishma answers Yudhishthira’s questions by classifying marriage practices and their ethical standing, citing Smriti-style authority to warn against mercenary motives in arranging marriages.