Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 15
Manu Offers Devahūti to Kardama; The Sage Accepts with a Devotional Vow
ऋषिरुवाच बाढमुद्वोढुकामोऽहमप्रत्ता च तवात्मजा । आवयोरनुरूपोऽसावाद्यो वैवाहिको विधि: ॥ १५ ॥
ṛṣir uvāca bāḍham udvoḍhu-kāmo ’ham aprattā ca tavātmajā āvayor anurūpo ’sāv ādyo vaivāhiko vidhiḥ
ฤๅษีกล่าวว่า “แน่นอน ข้าปรารถนาจะแต่งงาน และธิดาของท่านยังมิได้หมั้นหมายแก่ผู้ใด ดังนั้นพิธีวิวาห์ตามแบบพระเวทของเราทั้งสองย่อมเกิดขึ้นได้โดยเหมาะสม”
There were many considerations by Kardama Muni before accepting the daughter of Svāyambhuva Manu. Most important is that Devahūti had first of all fixed her mind on marrying him. She did not choose to have any other man as her husband. That is a great consideration because female psychology dictates that when a woman offers her heart to a man for the first time, it is very difficult for her to take it back. Also, she had not married before; she was a virgin girl. All these considerations convinced Kardama Muni to accept her. Therefore he said, “Yes, I shall accept your daughter under religious regulations of marriage.” There are different kinds of marriages, of which the first-class marriage is held by inviting a suitable bridegroom for the daughter and giving her in charity, well dressed and well decorated with ornaments, along with a dowry according to the means of the father. There are other kinds of marriage, such as gāndharva marriage and marriage by love, which are also accepted as marriage. Even if one is forcibly kidnapped and later on accepted as a wife, that is also accepted. But Kardama Muni accepted the first-class way of marriage because the father was willing and the daughter was qualified. She had never offered her heart to anyone else. All these considerations made Kardama Muni agree to accept the daughter of Svāyambhuva Manu.
FAQs
This verse shows Kardama Muni affirming that the proper, dharmic course for them is the appropriate vaivāhika-vidhi—marriage performed according to sacred injunctions.
He clarifies his intention to accept Devahuti as his wife and notes she is not pledged elsewhere, so the fitting next step is to proceed through the proper marriage rite.
Treat marriage as a sacred commitment: proceed with clarity, mutual suitability, and integrity, honoring family responsibilities and ethical conduct rather than impulse.