283.  Hence, having promised to wed such a one, she is at liberty to give him over and wed another whom she likes.

284.  In consequence of that boon no one incurs sin by retracting promises of bestowing daughters upon others in view of more eligible husbands.

285.  Hence, no one should bestow his daughter upon a person that is not eligible, for the offspring of such marriage can never be good and such a marriage can never make the daughter’s sire or kinsmen happy.

286.  One of the most important rites of marriage is the ceremony of circumambulation.  The girl is now borne around the bride-groom by her kinsmen.  Formerly, she used to walk herself.  All gifts, again, are made with water.  The fact is, when a thing is given away, the giver, uttering the formula, sprinkles a drop of water upon it with a blade of Kusa grass.

287.  Hence, what Savitri did at the bidding of her sire could not be against the course of duty or morality.  The Burdwan translator has misunderstood the second line of this verse, while K.P.  Singha has quietly dropped it.

288.  Dharmasya refers to the true or correct or eternal Aryan usage, Pradanam is khandanam, from da, to cut The sense is that the grant of liberty to women is an Asura practice.

289.  Hence, no one should wed, led by desire alone.  Nor should the maiden be permitted to choose for herself.  She may be guided in her choice by improper considerations connected with only carnal pleasure.

290.  The property is divided into five parts, two of which are taken by the daughter under such circumstances and three by the son.

291.  I expand the verse for making it intelligible, by setting forth the reasons urged by Hindu lawyers and noticed by the commentator.

292.  Valatah vasyam implies only those whose consent is obtained by force.  Hence, such cases as those of Krishna abducting Rukmini and Arjuna abducting Subhadra, are excluded from this denunciation.

293.  The maiden may herself accept ornaments.  That would not convert the transaction into a sale.

294.  Swalpa-kaupinah literally is covered with a small piece of cloth, hence, capable of being easily seduced.

295. i.e., he should not acquire for storing.  He may acquire to spend in sacrifices and gifts or for maintaining himself and his family.

296. i.e., if the Brahmana, led by affection for any other wife, disregards the wife belonging to his own order and shows preference for those of the other orders, he then incurs the liability of being regarded as a Chandala that has come to be numbered among Brahmanas.