Shloka 12
Adhyāya 96: Nārada Guides Mātali in Varuṇa’s Realm
Varuṇa-loka Darśana
इस प्रसंगमें कन्यादान करनेके लिये वर ढूँढ़नेवाले मातलिके इस प्राचीन इतिहासका उदाहरण दिया करते हैं ।।
mataḥ trailokyarājasya mātalināma sārathiḥ | tasyākaivā kule kanyā rūpato lokaviśrutā ||
迦ṇ婆说道：“人们在为女儿择婿、行嫁女之礼时，常援引一则古老的先例。三界之主因陀罗的御者名叫摩多梨（Mātali）。在他的族中，唯有一女，因其容貌之美而名闻诸世。”
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames marriage (especially kanyādāna) as a dharmic act guided by precedent and careful selection: families cite exemplary ancient histories to justify and refine the search for a worthy bridegroom, emphasizing responsibility toward lineage and social order.
Kaṇva introduces an old, well-known story used as an example in discussions of arranging a daughter’s marriage. He begins by identifying Mātali, Indra’s charioteer, and notes that Mātali had a single daughter celebrated for her beauty—setting the stage for the ensuing account of finding her a suitable match.