Shloka 19
Dāyavibhāga (Inheritance Apportionment) and Household Precedence — Dialogue of Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīṣma
युधिछिर उवाच शुल्कमन्येन दत्तं स्याद् ददानीत्याह चापर: । बलादन्य: प्रभाषेत धनमन्य: प्रदर्शयेत्
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca— śulkam anyena dattaṃ syād dadānīty āha cāparaḥ | balād anyaḥ prabhāṣeta dhanam anyaḥ pradarśayet |
युधिष्ठिर उवाच—पितामह! शुल्कमन्येन दत्तं स्यात्, अपरः ‘ददामि’ इति प्रतिजानीते; अन्यः बलाद् हरिष्यामीति वदति; अन्यः बन्धून् अधिकधनेन लोभयति; पञ्चमस्तु पाणिग्रहणं कृतवान्। धर्मतः सा कन्या कस्य भार्या भवेत्? तत्त्वं जिज्ञासमानानां नो भवान् चक्षुर्भवतु।
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharma-legal problem: when multiple men assert competing claims over a maiden through payment, promise, wealth inducement, coercion, or completed ritual, which claim is valid. It invites a principled hierarchy of legitimacy—privileging lawful procedure and completed sacramental acts over mere promises, bribery, or force.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira consults Bhīṣma on subtle points of conduct. Here he presents a complex marriage dispute with several claimants and asks Bhīṣma to determine, according to dharma, who should be regarded as the rightful husband.