Verse 3.54

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:

यासां नाददते शुल्कं ज्ञातयो न स विक्रयः ।
अर्हणं तत् कुमारीणामानृशंस्यं च केवलम् ॥ ५४ ॥

yāsāṃ nādadate śulkaṃ jñātayo na sa vikrayaḥ |
arhaṇaṃ tat kumārīṇāmānṛśaṃsyaṃ ca kevalam || 54 ||

In the case of girls whose relations do not appropriate the bride’s gift, it is not “selling;” It is only a means of honouring the maidens and is entirely harmless.—(54)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

The question being—“Does the mere act of receiving gifts from the bridegroom make the marriage a sale?”—our answer is that it is not so; it is when the ‘relations’ of the bride,—i.e., those in charge of her—accept gifts for themselves, then alone it is ‘selling.’

‘Means of honouring’:—The receiving of presents on behalf of brides becomes a means of honouring them; it raises the girls in their own estimation; they come to think that ‘we are so good that we are being married after receiving proper presents;’ they rise in the estimation of the people also, who look upon such brides as very ‘handsomely fortunate.’ Or, when out of the presents received ornaments are made for them, and they are decked in them, they look beautiful.

‘Harmless’—it involves no sin; i.e., there is not the slightest taint of sin in this act.

What this exaggerated statement indicates is that the accepting of presents on behalf of the bride is permitted.—(54).

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Vīramitrodaya (Saṃskāra, p. 850) in support of the view that if the ‘cow-pair’ given by the bridegroom in the Ārṣa marriage is accepted, not in greed,—then it is to be looked upon only as a means of honouring the bride, and not as a ‘price’ paid for her. It explains the word ‘ānṛśaṃsyam’ as ‘not sinful.’

Madanapārijāta (p. 156) also quotes it in support of the view that if the ‘cow-pair’ is accepted on behalf of the bride, there is nothing wrong in it,—the verse being explained as follows—That ‘consideration’ which is accepted on behalf of the bride, constitutes the ‘honouring’ of the girl, and as such is not sinful;—i.e., the ‘consideration’ thus received should be handed over to the girl.

It is quoted in Saṃskāramayūkha (p. 100), which explains ‘ānṛśaṃsyam’ as ‘honest dealing’;—in Saṃskā raratnamālā (p. 479) winch explains ‘ānṛśaṃsyam’ as ‘not sinful—and in Smṛticandrikā (Saṃskāra, p. 233), which explains the meaning as ‘what is received as fee for the girl, that is only a present to the bride,’—and is ‘ānṛśaṃsyam’, ‘nothing sinful.’

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Mahābhārata (Anuśā. 81.1-2; also 13.46.1-2).—‘People learned in ancient lore quote the words of Prācetasa to the effect that in cases where the relations do not appropriate anything for themselves, it is not selling, it is only a method of honouring the girls, and as such, entirely harmless and righteous; the whole of the present received should he made over to the girl.’