घंटक उवाच । निर्दोषं मां द्विजश्रेष्ठ कस्मात्त्वं शपसि द्रुतम् । त्वयैषा मे स्वयं दत्ता तेन रात्रौ हृता मया
ghaṃṭaka uvāca | nirdoṣaṃ māṃ dvijaśreṣṭha kasmāttvaṃ śapasi drutam | tvayaiṣā me svayaṃ dattā tena rātrau hṛtā mayā
ฆัณฑกะกล่าวว่า: ‘โอ้ผู้ประเสริฐในหมู่ทวิชะ ข้าพเจ้าไร้ความผิด ไฉนท่านจึงรีบสาปข้าพเจ้า? ท่านเองได้มอบกุมารีนี้แก่ข้าพเจ้าโดยสมัครใจ ฉะนั้นข้าพเจ้าจึงพานางไปในยามราตรี’
Ghaṃṭaka
Type: kshetra
Listener: Bhārgava (addressed as dvijaśreṣṭha)
Scene: Ghaṃṭaka stands with palms partly joined in respectful protest, addressing the brāhmaṇa; his face shows controlled urgency; the brāhmaṇa remains stern; sages look between them like a council.
Dharma disputes often hinge on intent, consent, and prior commitments; words and gifts create binding responsibility.
Not specified in this verse.
Implicitly references kanyā-dāna (giving of a maiden in marriage), but no formal rite is prescribed here.