876 Stimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 22
daughter in charity to a suitable son-in-law is considered to be one of the
pious activities of a householder. There are eight forms of marriage men-
tioned in the scripture Manu-smrti, but only one process of marriage,
brahma or rajasika marriage, is now current. Other kinds of marriage, by
love, by exchange of garlands or by kidnapping the bride, are now for-
bidden in this Kali Age. Formerly, ksatriyas would, at their pleasure,
kidnap a princess from another royal house, and there would be a fight
between the ksatriya and the girl’s family; then, if the kidnapper was the
winner, the girl would be offered to him for marriage. Even Krsna married
Rukmini by that process, and some of His sons and grandsons also married
by kidnapping. Krgna’s grandson kidnapped Duryodhana’s daughter, which
caused a fight between the Kuru and Yadu families. Afterwards, an
adjustment was made by the elderly members of the Kuru family. Such
marriages were current in bygone ages, but at the present moment they
are not possible because the strict principles of ksatriya life have practically
been abolished. Since India has become dependent on foreign countries,
the particular influences of her social orders have been lost; now, according
to the scriptures, everyone is a sudra. The so-called brahmanas, ksatriyas
and vaisyas have forgotten their traditional activities, and in the absence of
these activities they are called sudras. It is said in the scriptures, kalau
Sidra-sambhava. In the age of Kali everyone will be like sidras. The
traditional social customs are not followed in this age, although formerly
they were followed strictly.
TEXT 17
at ways woefiratat
fratedt  aeqafagerety |
fearagelracanfarat-
famtay = aeatefaqezat: 11201!
yam harmya-pysthe kvanad-anghri-sobham
vikridatim kanduka-vihvalaksim
visvdvasur nyapatat svad vimanad
vilokya sammoha-vimiidha-cetah
yam—whom;, harmya-prsthe—on the roof of the palace; kvapat-anghri-

Sobham—whose beauty was heightened by the tinkling ornaments on her
feet; vikridatim—playing; kanduka-vihvala-aksim—with eyes bewildered,
