Shloka 3

Dāyavibhāga (Inheritance Apportionment) and Household Precedence — Dialogue of Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīṣma

Devanagari script

भीष्म उवाच शीलवृत्ते समाज्ञाय विद्यां योनिं च कर्म च । सद्/रिरेवं प्रदातव्या कन्या गुणयुते वरे

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | śīla-vṛtte samājñāya vidyāṁ yoniṁ ca karma ca | sadṛśaṁ evaṁ pradātavyā kanyā guṇayute vare ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“应先查明求婚者的品性与行止——其学识、族系，以及行事之道；唯有配得之人，方可将少女许配。故当求婚者在诸方面皆具德行时，便应将女儿授与他。”

Word by Word

• {'bhīṣma uvāca': 'Bhishma said', 'śīla': 'character, disposition, moral nature', 'vṛtta': 'conduct, behavior, way of life', 'samājñāya': 'having ascertained, having examined and understood', 'vidyā': 'learning, education, knowledge', 'yoni': 'birth, lineage, family origin', 'karma': 'actions, deeds

• practical conduct', 'sadṛśam': 'suitable, fitting, well-matched', 'evam': 'thus, in this manner', 'pradātavyā': 'should be given (to be bestowed in marriage)', 'kanyā': 'maiden, daughter', 'guṇayuta': 'endowed with virtues/qualities', 'vara': 'bridegroom, suitor'}

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• kanyā (maiden/daughter)
• vara (bridegroom/suitor)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Before giving a daughter in marriage, one must carefully examine the suitor’s character and conduct, learning, lineage, and actions; only a truly virtuous and suitable man should be accepted.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma is instructing on dharma related to marriage arrangements, emphasizing due scrutiny of the prospective groom’s qualities and background before bestowing the maiden.