Shloka 16
Raivataka-giri Mahotsava and the Counsel on Subhadrā’s Marriage (रैवतके महोत्सवः — सुभद्राविवाहोपायविचारः)
मम भार्या तव गुरुरिति सुन्दो5भ्यभाषत । मम भार्या तव वधूरुपसुन्दो5भ्यभाषत,सुन्दने कहा--“अरे! यह मेरी पत्नी है, तुम्हारे लिये माताके समान है।' यह सुनकर उपसुन्द बोल उठा--“नहीं-नहीं, यह मेरी भार्या है, तुम्हारे लिये तो पुत्रवधूके समान है!
mama bhāryā tava gurur iti sundo 'bhyabhāṣata | mama bhāryā tava vadhūr upasundo 'bhyabhāṣata |
那罗陀说道：孙陀宣称：“她是我的妻子；因此她是你的 गुरु（应如母亲般敬奉的师长）。” 优婆孙陀反驳：“她是我的妻子；因此她是你的儿媳。”于是两兄弟都想占有同一女子，借由按社会与伦理的等级重新界定亲属关系——显出欲望如何扭曲达摩，使血亲之名也沦为争辩的武器。
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how attachment and lust can manipulate ethical language: instead of protecting dharma, the brothers weaponize social categories (guru/mother-like reverence vs. daughter-in-law) to justify possession. It warns that when desire dominates, even kinship norms become tools for conflict and adharma.
In Nārada’s narration of the Sunda–Upasunda episode, the two brothers dispute over the same woman. Sunda claims she is his wife and therefore must be revered by Upasunda like a guru (mother). Upasunda counters that she is his wife and therefore Sunda should regard her as his daughter-in-law. Their competing claims escalate the quarrel.