Shloka 52
Dāyavibhāga (Inheritance Apportionment) and Household Precedence — Dialogue of Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīṣma
देवरं प्रविशेत् कन्या तप्येद् वापि तप: पुन: । तमेवानुगता भूत्वा पाणिग्राहस्य काम्यया
devaraṃ praviśet kanyā tapyed vāpi tapaḥ punaḥ | tamevānugatā bhūtvā pāṇigrāhasya kāmyayā ||
Sinabi ni Bhishma: Kapag namatay ang lalaking nagbayad ng bride‑price, ang dalaga ay dapat alinman ay makipag‑isang‑dibdib sa nakababatang kapatid niyang lalaki (bilang asawa ayon sa dharma), o kaya’y magsagawa muli ng mga pag‑aayuno at pagtitika—manatiling tapat sa pag‑iisip sa mismong lalaking iyon, na may hangaring makamtan siya (kahit sa ibang kapanganakan), at mamuhay habang‑buhay bilang dalaga.
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
When a marriage arrangement is disrupted by the death of the bridegroom (the one who paid the bride-price), dharma offers two sanctioned paths: accept the younger brother as husband to preserve familial continuity, or maintain chastity and practice austerity with steadfast fidelity to the intended husband, aspiring to reunion even beyond this life.
In Bhishma’s instruction on conduct and social-religious law, he addresses the proper course for a maiden whose intended husband dies after paying the bride-price, outlining either a substitute marriage within the same family (with the devara) or a life of ascetic fidelity.