Shloka 9
Dāyavibhāga (Inheritance Apportionment) and Household Precedence — Dialogue of Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīṣma
पज्चानां तु त्रयो धर्म्या द्वावधर्म्यों युधिष्ठिर । पैशाचश्चासुरश्चैव न कर्तव्यो कथंचन,युधिष्ठिर! इन पाँच (त्राह्म, प्राजापत्य, गान्धर्व, आसुर और राक्षस) विवाहोंमेंसे पूर्वकथित तीन विवाह धर्मानुकूल हैं और शेष दो पापमय हैं। आसुर और राक्षस विवाह किसी प्रकार भी नहीं करने चाहियेः
pañcānāṁ tu trayo dharmyā dvāv adharmyau yudhiṣṭhira | paiśācaś cāsuraś caiva na kartavyo kathaṁcana ||
Bhīṣma said: “Of the five forms of marriage, O Yudhiṣṭhira, three are in accordance with dharma, while two are contrary to dharma. The Paiśāca and the Āsura forms should never be practiced under any circumstances.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma classifies the five traditional marriage forms and gives a clear ethical rule: only the dharma-sanctioned forms should be followed, while Paiśāca and Āsura are explicitly forbidden as adharmic.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma addresses Yudhiṣṭhira and lays down social-ethical guidance regarding marriage, distinguishing acceptable practices from those that must be avoided.