History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v2.c26.388

v2.c26.388

The forms of marriage have their roots deep down in the Vedic Literature. Ṛg. X. 85 gives expression to a marriage in the brāhma form (*there is kanyādāna and so forth*). The āsura form (by payment of money) is referred to in Ṛg. I. 109. 2 and Nirukta VI. 9 (quoted above in note 1175). The gāndharva form or svayaṁvara is indicated by Ṛg. X. 27. 12 (quoted above p. 439) and Ṛg. I. 119. 5. The story of Śyāvāśva narrated in the Bṛhaddevatā (V. 50) in connection with Ṛg. V. 61 makes an approach to the daiva form. It is related in the Bṛhad-devatā that Ātreya Arcanānas who officiated as a priest at a sacrifice for king Rathavīti asked for his son Śyāvāśva the hand of the king's daughter.