Verse 8.204

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

अन्यां चेद् दर्शयित्वाऽन्या वोढुः कन्या प्रदीयते ।
उभे त एकशुल्केन वहेदित्यब्रवीन् मनुः ॥ २०४ ॥

anyāṃ ced darśayitvā'nyā voḍhuḥ kanyā pradīyate |
ubhe ta ekaśulkena vahedityabravīn manuḥ || 204 ||

After one damsel has been shown, if another be given to the bridegroom, then he should marry both of them for the same single price,—so Manu has ordained.—(204)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

Since the present context is dealing with matters relating to sales, it lays down certain rules relating to maidens given in marriage for a price.

At the time of receiving the price, if the man shows a beautiful girl, but after having received it, he gives an ugly one, or one not of proper age, or of inferior qualifications,—then for that same price, the bridegroom shall marry both the girls.

The rule here laid down pertains to the case of girls only, that relating to similar frauds in connection with the selling of cattle and other goods shall be laid down later on.—(204)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

“Yet he has emphatically inveighed against the sale of women 3.51, 9.98”—says Hopkins. But he forgets that ‘śulka’ is not price, Buhler also has been similarly misled.

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 8.204-205)

Yājñavalkya (1.66).—‘If a man gives away his daughter in marriage, without mentioning her defects, he should be fined the highest amercement.’

Nārada (Aparārka, p. 95).—‘If a man gives away a defective girl in marriage, without mentioning the defect, he should be punished by the King with the first amercement; the defects of a girl being presence of chronic and loathsome disease, shortness of limbs, loss of virginity, immodesty, attachment to another man.’