Shloka 51
Dāyavibhāga (Inheritance Apportionment) and Household Precedence — Dialogue of Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīṣma
यत्रेष्ट तत्र देया स्याज्नात्र कार्या विचारणा । कुर्वते जीवतो<प्येवं मृते नैवास्ति संशय:
yatreṣṭa tatra deyā syāj jñātrā kāryā vicāraṇā | kurvate jīvato 'py evaṁ mṛte naivāsti saṁśayaḥ ||
Bhīṣma diz: “Uma filha deve ser dada em casamento onde se encontre um noivo excelente e adequado; não se deve alimentar deliberações contrárias. Mesmo que aquele que oferece o preço da noiva ou outra contrapartida ainda esteja vivo, pessoas honradas casam a moça com o pretendente digno quando ele está disponível; e, se aquele morreu, dá-la a outro lugar não admite dúvida alguma.”
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Guardians should prioritize the girl’s welfare and dharmic suitability of the groom: when a worthy match is available, the marriage should be concluded without being bound by contrary considerations such as prior claims or payments.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (especially household and social duties), he gives a practical rule about arranging a daughter’s marriage: choose the best eligible groom available, and do not hesitate even if someone else has offered consideration; if that person has died, the permissibility is even clearer.