Shloka 1
Putra-Bheda: Kṣetraja, Kṛtaka, Apasada, and Saṃskāra Determinations (पुत्रभेद-निर्णयः)
अपन क्रा छा अं क्ााज षट्चत्वारिशो5 ध्याय: स्त्रियोंके वस्त्रा भूषणोंसे सत्कार करनेकी आवश्यकताका प्रतिपादन भीष्म उवाच प्राचेतसस्य वचन कीर्तयन्ति पुराविद: । यस्या: किंचिन्नाददते ज्ञातयो न स विक्रय:
bhīṣma uvāca | prācetasasya vacanaṁ kīrtayanti purāvidaḥ | yasyāḥ kiṁcin nādadate jñātayo na sa vikrayaḥ ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “O Yudhishthira, isinasalaysay ng mga pantas na nakaaalam ng sinaunang kaugalian ang pahayag ni Pracetas (Daksha Prajapati). Kung ang mga kamag-anak ng isang dalaga ay tumatanggap ng yaman na inilaan para sa kanyang kasuotan at mga alahas, ngunit wala silang kinukuha ni bahagya para sa kanilang sarili, hindi iyon ‘pagbebenta’ sa dalaga. Iyon ay paggalang at pagpaparangal lamang sa kanya—isang gawang nakaugat sa habag—at anumang matamo sa kanyang pangalan ay dapat ihandog nang buo sa kanya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wealth received in connection with a maiden’s marriage is not to be treated as her ‘sale’ if the relatives do not appropriate it for themselves; it should function as an honorific provision for her clothing and ornaments, and be given to her in full.
In Bhishma’s instruction to Yudhishthira on dharma, he cites an old authoritative saying attributed to Pracetas/Daksha to clarify the ethical boundary between honoring a bride with gifts and the immoral notion of selling her.