Arthashastra

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विवाहानां तु त्रयाणां पूर्वेषां वर्णानां पाणि ग्रहणात् सिद्धम् उपावर्तनं, शूद्राणां च प्रकर्मणः ॥

(Marriage Contracts) ॥ As regards marriages among the three higher castes, rejection of a bride before the rite of pánigrahana, clasping of hands, is valid; likewise among the Súdras, observing religious rites.

english translation

vivAhAnAM tu trayANAM pUrveSAM varNAnAM pANi grahaNAt siddham upAvartanaM, zUdrANAM ca prakarmaNaH ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

वृत्त पाणि ग्रहणयोर् अपि दोषम् औपशायिकं दृष्ट्वा सिद्धम् उपावर्तनम् ॥

Even in the case of a couple that has gone through the rite of pánigrahana,॥ rejection of a bride whose guilt of having lain with another man has been afterwards detected is valid.

english translation

vRtta pANi grahaNayor api doSam aupazAyikaM dRSTvA siddham upAvartanam ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

न त्व् एव अभिप्रजातयोः ॥

But never so in the case of brides and bridegrooms of pure character and high family.

english translation

na tv eva abhiprajAtayoH ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

कन्या दोषम् औपशायिकम् अनाख्याय प्रयच्छतः कन्यां षण् णवतिर् दण्डः, शुल्क स्त्री धन प्रतिदानं च ॥

Any person who has given a girl in marriage without announcing her guilt of having lain with another shall not only be punished with a fine of 96 panas, but also be made to return the sulka and strídhana.

english translation

kanyA doSam aupazAyikam anAkhyAya prayacchataH kanyAM SaN Navatir daNDaH, zulka strI dhana pratidAnaM ca ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

वरयितुर् वा वर-दोषम् अनाख्याय विन्दतो द्वि गुणः, शुल्क स्त्री धन नाशश् च ॥

Any person receiving a girl in marriage without announcing the blemishes of the bridegroom shall not only pay double the above fine, but also forfeit the sulka and strídhana (he paid for the bride).

english translation

varayitur vA vara-doSam anAkhyAya vindato dvi guNaH, zulka strI dhana nAzaz ca ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript