13.045
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
O grandsire, if there is no husband for a maiden whose bride-price has been received, what should be done in that case? Please tell me that. (13-45-1)
Bhishma said.
A woman, even if she is the wife of a man without a son or without inheritance, should be accepted as such. But if she has been purchased with a bride-price, she belongs to the giver of the bride-price; for his sake, she should desire offspring, by whatever law it may be possible. (13-45-3)
No one should perform any ritualistic act for her as with a mantra. Savitri, having chosen herself, was indeed accepted by her father. That act is praised by those who know dharma, but not by other people. (13-45-5)
But others did not do this, nor did the other virtuous ever do so. For the virtuous, again, conduct is a weightier mark of dharma. (13-45-6)
In this very section, Sukratu spoke these words. He was the grandson of the king of Videha, Janaka, the great-souled one. (13-45-7)
How could there be recounting on a path practiced by the unvirtuous? Only further questioning or doubt would arise among the good regarding this. (13-45-8)
Negligence is truly unworthy of dharma; such dharma is demonic. We have never heard of this in any of our previous births. (13-45-9)
The connection between wife and offspring is indeed equal for woman and man; pleasure is a common duty—thus said the king. (13-45-10)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
Now, by what authority is wealth taken from men? Indeed, the daughter is worthy to become like a son to her father. (13-45-11)
Bhishma said.
Just as the self, so is the son; and by the son, the daughter is considered equal. While she remains in her own self, how can another take her wealth? (13-45-12)
The dowry belonging to the mother, whatever it may be, is to be given to the maiden's share; and the daughter's son, or, should inherit the property of a father who has no son. (13-45-13)
He indeed offers the rice-ball to both the father and the maternal grandfather; between the son and the daughter's son, no distinction is recognized here by law. (13-45-14)
Elsewhere, a woman who has given birth is indeed sought after for offspring, and a son is desired. But a daughter, when born elsewhere, even surpasses a son. (13-45-15)
By law, I do not see any reason here for the daughter's son. Even when sons are sold, they indeed belong to the father. (13-45-16)
But those who are envious, devoted to unrighteousness, who seize others' wealth, who are deceitful, born especially from demonic nature, and whose conduct is hostile to dharma, (13-45-17)
Here, the verses sung by Yama are recited by those who know the ancient traditions; the knowers of dharma, established in the treatises and foundations of dharma. (13-45-18)
Whoever is a man that, having sold his own son, seeks wealth, or who gives his daughter away for a fee for the sake of his life, (13-45-19)
In the sevenfold, extremely dreadful hell known as Kāla, the departed soul is made to consume sweat, urine, and excrement there. (13-45-20)
In the āṛṣa marriage, the bride-price is a pair of cows; some say this is entirely false. Whether it is little or much, O king, it is still a sale. (13-45-21)
Even though this duty may be practiced by some, it is in no way proper; for among others too, actions arising from greed are observed. (13-45-22)
Those who have intercourse with a subdued maiden who has been assigned (to another), these are the perpetrators of sin; afterwards, they dwell in utter darkness. (13-45-23)
Even another human being should not be sold, so what to say of the subjects? Indeed, with wealth rooted in unrighteousness, there is no real purpose achieved by them. (13-45-24)
