Shloka 32
Dāyavibhāga (Inheritance Apportionment) and Household Precedence — Dialogue of Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīṣma
अन्यैर्गुणैरुपेतं तु शुल्क॑ याचन्ति बान्धवा: । अलंकृत्वा वहस्वेति यो दद्यादनुकूलत:,कन्याके भाई-बन्धु किसीसे मूल्य तभी माँगते हैं जब वह विपरीत गुण (अधिक अवस्था आदि)-से युक्त होता है। यदि वरको बुलाकर कहा जाय कि “तुम मेरी कन्याको आभूषण पहनाकर इसके साथ विवाह कर लो” और ऐसा कहनेपर वह उसके लिये आभूषण देकर विवाह करे तो यह धर्मानुकूल ही है
anyair guṇair upetaṃ tu śulkaṃ yācanti bāndhavāḥ | alaṅkṛtvā vahasveti yo dadyād anukūlataḥ ||
Disse Bhīṣma: Os parentes da moça só pedem um preço de noiva quando ela está onerada por outras condições ou qualidades desfavoráveis (como idade avançada e semelhantes). Mas, se o pretendente é convidado e se lhe diz: «Adorna-a e toma-a por esposa», e ele então lhe fornece ornamentos e se casa com ela, tal ato está de acordo com o dharma.
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma distinguishes between demanding a bride-price (often linked to unfavourable circumstances) and a dharmic arrangement where the groom voluntarily provides ornaments and marries with consent; the latter is treated as proper and ethical.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on conduct and social duties, he explains when asking for śulka occurs and clarifies that a groom adorning the bride by giving ornaments, when invited to do so, is a dharma-consistent form of marriage arrangement.