FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.22.15

ऋषिरुवाच बाढमुद्वोढुकामोऽहमप्रत्ता च तवात्मजा । आवयोरनुरूपोऽसावाद्यो वैवाहिको विधि: ॥ १५ ॥
ṛṣir uvāca
[rishir uvaacha]
bāḍham udvoḍhu-kāmo ’ham
[baadham udvodhu-kaamo ’ham]
aprattā ca tavātmajā
[aprattaa cha tavaatmajaa]
āvayor anurūpo ’sāv
[aavayor anuroopo ’saav]
ādyo vaivāhiko vidhiḥ
[aadyo vaivaahiko vidhih]
ṛṣiḥ — the great sage Kardama uvāca — said bāḍham — very well udvoḍhu-kāmaḥ — desirous to marry aham — I aprattā — not promised to anyone else ca — and tava — your ātma-jā — daughter āvayoḥ — of us two anurūpaḥ — proper asau — this ādyaḥ — first vaivāhikaḥ — of marriage vidhiḥ — ritualistic ceremony.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
ṛṣir uvāca
ṛṣiḥ
the great sage Kardama
uvāca
said
bāḍham udvoḍhu-kāmo ’ham
bāḍham
very well
udvoḍhu-kāmaḥ
desirous to marry
aprattā ca tavātmajā
āvayor anurūpo ’sāv
ādyo vaivāhiko vidhiḥ
aham
I
aprattā
not promised to anyone else
ca
and
tava
your
ātma-jā
daughter
āvayoḥ
of us two
anurūpaḥ
proper
asau
this
ādyaḥ
first
vaivāhikaḥ
of marriage
vidhiḥ
ritualistic ceremony.
The great sage replied: Certainly I have a desire to marry, and your daughter has not yet married or given her word to anyone. Therefore our marriage according to the Vedic system can take place.

There were many considerations by Kardama Muni before accepting the daughter of Svāyambhuva Manu. Most important is that Devahūti had first of all fixed her mind on marrying him. She did not choose to have any other man as her husband. That is a great consideration because female psychology dictates that when a woman offers her heart to a man for the first time, it is very difficult for her to take it back. Also, she had not married before; she was a virgin girl. All these considerations convinced Kardama Muni to accept her. Therefore he said, “Yes, I shall accept your daughter under religious regulations of marriage.” There are different kinds of marriages, of which the first-class marriage is held by inviting a suitable bridegroom for the daughter and giving her in charity, well dressed and well decorated with ornaments, along with a dowry according to the means of the father. There are other kinds of marriage, such as gāndharva marriage and marriage by love, which are also accepted as marriage. Even if one is forcibly kidnapped and later on accepted as a wife, that is also accepted. But Kardama Muni accepted the first-class way of marriage because the father was willing and the daughter was qualified. She had never offered her heart to anyone else. All these considerations made Kardama Muni agree to accept the daughter of Svāyambhuva Manu.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The sage said: Yes, I desire to get married and your daughter has not been given to anyone else. This is a suitable marriage for us since there has been no previous marriage. Aprattā means “not promised to anyone else.” Ādyaḥ means not previously married.
The senses and mind are not enemies but unguided servants. The verse points to gentle, consistent reining-in — not violence against the body, but honest direction of where attention goes.
Reflection Questions
  • What is your mind feeding on most often, and how is that diet shaping your devotion?
  • What would it look like to lead the mind, gently, the way you would lead a child?
📝 My note

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