Shloka 2
Varṇasaṃkara: Causes, Classifications, and Conduct-based Recognition (वर्णसंकरः—हेतु-जाति-आचारनिर्णयः)
भीष्म उवाच या पुत्रकस्य ऋद्धस्य प्रतिपाल्या तदा भवेत् | अथ चेन्नाहरेच्छुल्क॑ क्रीता शुल्कप्रदस्य सा,भीष्मजीने कहा--युधिष्ठिर! यदि संतानहीन धनीसे कन्याका मूल्य लिया गया है तो पिताका कर्तव्य है कि वह उसके लौटनेतक कन्याकी हर तरहसे रक्षा करे। खरीदी हुई कन्याका मूल्य जबतक लौटा नहीं दिया जाता तबतक वह कन्या मूल्य देनेवालेकी ही मानी जाती है
bhīṣma uvāca yā putrakasya ṛddhasya pratipālyā tadā bhavet | atha cen nāharec chulkaṃ krītā śulkapradasya sā ||
भीष्म उवाच— यदि पुत्रहीनस्य धनिनः कन्याशुल्कं गृहीतं स्यात्, तदा तस्यागमनपर्यन्तं पितुः कर्तव्यं सर्वथा कन्यां परिरक्षितुम्। यावच्च शुल्कं न प्रत्याहृतं, तावत् सा शुल्कप्रदस्यैव मता; अप्रतिदत्ते शुल्के सा क्रीतेव तस्यैव भवति।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Accepting a bride-price creates a binding obligation: until the payment is returned, the guardian must protect the maiden, and failure to repay implies the transaction stands, making her legally/ritually associated with the payer. The emphasis is on accountability, protection of the vulnerable, and integrity in agreements.
In his instruction to Yudhishthira on dharma, Bhishma discusses a case involving a maiden for whom a bride-price has been taken. He clarifies the guardian’s duty of protection and the legal-ethical consequence if the bride-price is not returned.