Shloka 32
Dāyavibhāga (Inheritance Apportionment) and Household Precedence — Dialogue of Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīṣma
अन्यैर्गुणैरुपेतं तु शुल्क॑ याचन्ति बान्धवा: । अलंकृत्वा वहस्वेति यो दद्यादनुकूलत:
anyair guṇair upetaṃ tu śulkaṃ yācanti bāndhavāḥ | alaṅkṛtvā vahasveti yo dadyād anukūlataḥ ||
Sinabi ni Bhīṣma: Humihingi lamang ng “bayad sa nobya” ang mga kamag‑anak ng dalaga kapag siya’y may kasamang ibang di‑kanais‑nais na kalagayan o katangian (gaya ng labis na edad, at iba pa). Ngunit kung anyayahan ang magiging asawa at sabihing, “Bihisan mo siya ng alahas at kunin mo siyang asawa,” at siya’y magbigay ng mga palamuti at pakasalan siya, ang gawaing iyon ay ayon sa dharma.
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma distinguishes between demanding a bride-price (often linked to unfavourable circumstances) and a dharmic arrangement where the groom voluntarily provides ornaments and marries with consent; the latter is treated as proper and ethical.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on conduct and social duties, he explains when asking for śulka occurs and clarifies that a groom adorning the bride by giving ornaments, when invited to do so, is a dharma-consistent form of marriage arrangement.