540
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 3, Ch. 14]
PURPORT
It appears from this verse that free selection of a husband was allowed by the father, but not by free association. The daughters were asked separately to submit their selection of a husband who was famous for his acts and personality. The ultimate selection depended on the choice of the father.
TEXT 14
स विदित्वाऽऽत्मजानां नो भावं सन्तानभावनः। श्योदशरदात्तासां यास्ते शीलमनुव्रताः ॥१४॥
sa viditvā'tma-jānām no bhāvam santāna-bhāvanaḥ trayodaśādadāt tāsām yās te śīlam anuvratāḥ
saḥ—Dakṣa; viditvā—understanding; ātma-jānām—of the daughters; naḥ—our; bhāvam—indication; santāna—children; bhāvanaḥ—well-wisher; trayodaśa—thirteen; adadāt—handed over; tāsām—of all of them; yāḥ—those who are; te—your; śīlam—behavior; anuvratāḥ—all faithful.
TRANSLATION
Our well-wishing father, Dakṣa, after knowing our intentions, handed over thirteen of his daughters unto you, and since then we have all been faithful.
PURPORT
Generally the daughters were too shy to express their opinions before their father, but the father would accept the daughters' intentions through someone else, such as through a grandmother to whom the grandchildren had free access. King Dakṣa collected the opinions of his daughters and thus handed over thirteen to Kaśyapa. Every one of Diti's sisters was a mother of children. Therefore, since she was equally faithful to the same husband, why should she remain without children?
TEXT 15
अथ मे कुरु कल्याणं कामं कमललोचन । आर्तोपसर्पणं भूमध्ममोर्धं हि महीयसि ॥१५॥