Text 28] Conversation Between Manu and Kardama 831

atmajam asitapangim
vayah-sila-gunadnvitam

mrgayantim patim dasyaty
anuriipaya te prabho

dtma-jam—his own daughter; asita—black; apangim—eyes; vayah—grown-
up age; sila—with character; guna—with good qualities; anvitam—endowed;
mrgayantim—searching for; patim—a husband; dasyati—he will give;
anuripdya—who are suitable; te—unto you; prabho—My dear sir.

TRANSLATION

He has a grown-up daughter whose eyes are black. She is ready for
marriage, and she has good character and all good qualities. She is also
searching for a good husband. My dear sir, her parents will come to see you,
who are exactly suitable for her, just to deliver their daughter as your wife.

PURPORT

The selection of a good husband for a good girl was always entrusted
to the parents. Here it is clearly stated that Manu and his wife were coming
to see Kardama Muni to offer their daughter because the daughter was well
qualified and the parents were searching out a similarly qualified man. This
is the duty of parents. Girls are never thrown into the public street to
search out their husband because when girls are grown up and are searching
after a boy, they forget to consider whether the boy they select is actually
suitable for them. Out of the urge of sex desire, a girl may accept anyone,
but if the husband is chosen by the parents, they can consider who is to be
selected and who is not. According to the Vedic system, therefore, the
girl is given over to a suitable boy by the parents, but she is never allowed
to select her own husband independently.

TEXT 28
waned A eet ata aeacat |
A Al AMAITT: BATT AAeTA 2c!

samahitam te hrdayam
yalreman parivatsaran

sd tuam brahman nrpa-vadhih
kamam asu bhajisyati
