Mahabharata · 1.211.21–22
॥
Devanāgarī
वासुदेव उवाच
स्वयंवरः क्षत्रियाणां विवाहः पुरुषर्षभ ॥
स च संशयितः पार्थ स्वभावस्यानिमित्ततः ॥
प्रसह्य हरणं चापि क्षत्रियाणां प्रशस्यते ॥
विवाहहेतोः शूराणाम् इति धर्मविदो विदुः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
vāsudeva uvāca
svayaṃvaraḥ kṣatriyāṇāṃ vivāhaḥ puruṣarṣabha ||
sa ca saṃśayitaḥ pārtha svabhāvasyānimittataḥ ||
prasahya haraṇaṃ cāpi kṣatriyāṇāṃ praśasyate ||
vivāhahetoḥ śūrāṇām iti dharmavido viduḥ ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
स्वयंवरः क्षत्रियाणां विवाहः पुरुषर्षभsvayaṃvaraḥ kṣatriyāṇāṃ vivāhaḥ puruṣarṣabha“the svayamvara is [one] marriage of kshatriyas, O bull among men;
सः च संशयितः पार्थ स्वभावस्य अनिमित्ततःsaḥ ca saṃśayitaḥ pārtha svabhāvasya animittataḥbut it is uncertain [unreliable], O Partha, owing to the unknowability of her disposition [choice];
प्रसह्य हरणं च अपि क्षत्रियाणां प्रशस्यतेprasahya haraṇaṃ ca api kṣatriyāṇāṃ praśasyateand forcible abduction is also praised for kshatriyas,
विवाहहेतोः शूराणाम् इति धर्मविदः विदुःvivāhahetoḥ śūrāṇām iti dharmavidaḥ viduḥfor the sake of a marriage of heroes — thus know the knowers of dharma;
वासुदेवvāsudevaoriginal form "vāsudeva", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
सsaoriginal form "sa", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
स्वभावस्यानिमित्ततःsvabhāvasyānimittataḥoriginal form "svabhāvasyānimittataḥ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
चापिcāpioriginal form "cāpi", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
धर्मविदोdharmavidooriginal form "dharmavido", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
Translation
Vasudeva said: "The svayamvara is one marriage of kshatriyas, O bull among men; but it is uncertain, O Partha, owing to the unknowability of her choice; and forcible abduction is also praised for kshatriyas, for the sake of a marriage of heroes — thus know the knowers of dharma."
Version
ed2950c3a65d · published Jul 12, 2026, 6:11:48 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here the Lord points to a form of marriage permitted to kshatriyas. It is significant that "abduction for the sake of marriage" is counted among the practices praised for warriors: what would be violence for others is, for the kshatriya-hero, a recognized custom. It should be remembered that this is not willfulness, for Krishna himself, the bride's brother, instructs and blesses it, and the eldest Pandava will give his consent. The custom is sanctified by the family's sanction and the Lord's will. Thus scripture shows the kshatriya dharma of marriage; and Krishna guides his friend along the righteous path.