The Social and Military Position of the Ruling Caste in Ancient India, as Represented by the Sanskrit Epic c2.s6.82

c2.s6.82

imate for a father to give his daughter, although engaged to one man, to a better one, if the marriage has not taken place. The frequent denunciation of the custom proves its prevalence: ‘he that sells his son or offers his daughter for a fee goes to hell.’* ‘A gift for a girl is recorded by the good.’† ‘They that dispose of a girl for a fee go an evil course.’‡ The ‘fee’ is sometimes a mere promise to pay.§ A permissible sale is veiled as a free gift, but open selling is condemned. Nevertheless we find the selling practiced.‖ Even the pseudo-Epic records a case of sale. Gādhi did not care to give his daughter to Ricīka, because he thought ‘he’s a poor beggar’; so he said ‘first give me the fee, and you shall then have my daughter.’ The suitor readily assented, and paid the price (xiii. 4. 10). Fee is sometimes implied without express statement. Compare ‘this daughter was disposed of by the king, after the latter had stipulated the marriage-fee’ (i. 193. 23). If a man, it is said, should give a girl to one man and then to another, he would be born a worm—implying payment.¶