Shloka 43
Dāyavibhāga (Inheritance Apportionment) and Household Precedence — Dialogue of Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīṣma
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
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 ||
भीष्म उवाच—युधिष्ठिर, शिष्टानां क्षत्रियाणां च एष सनातनो धर्मः—योग्यं वरं समाहूय कन्यां तस्मै दद्यात्; एष ब्राह्मो विवाहः, श्रेष्ठब्राह्मणैः प्रशस्यते। यदा तु धनादिभिः वरपक्षं प्रसाद्य कन्यादानं क्रियते, स शिष्टब्राह्मणक्षत्रियाणां सनातनः धर्मः; स प्राजापत्य इति कथ्यते। स्मृतिश्चाह—येषां शुल्कतो निष्ठा न पाणिग्रहणात्, ते लाजान्तरमुपासीत; प्राप्तशुल्क इति स्मृताः।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.
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.