Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 51
अप्रयच्छन्समाप्नोति भूणहत्यामृतावृतौ । स्वयं त्वभावे दातॄणां कन्या कुर्यात्स्वयं वरम्
aprayacchansamāpnoti bhūṇahatyāmṛtāvṛtau | svayaṃ tvabhāve dātṝṇāṃ kanyā kuryātsvayaṃ varam
Aquele que retém (a donzela, recusando-se a dá-la no tempo devido) incorre em pecado semelhante ao de matar o feto, repetidas vezes à medida que passa a estação apropriada. Mas, se não houver doadores/guardiões aptos, a própria donzela pode escolher um esposo por svayaṃvara.
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Listener: null
Scene: Two-part moral scene: (1) a guardian refusing proposals as seasons pass, shadowed by a dark karmic cloud; (2) a dignified svayaṃvara hall where the maiden garlands her chosen husband in the absence of guardians.
FAQs
It stresses responsibility and timeliness in dharmic duties, while also providing a lawful alternative when guardians are absent.
No specific tīrtha is mentioned; the verse is normative dharma instruction within Kāśī Khaṇḍa.
It prescribes that a maiden should be duly given in marriage; if no guardians exist, svayaṃvara is permitted.