154 - Rules of Marriage 

Pushkara said: 

1. Thc brahminshould marry four wives, the warrior class three wives, the tradesmen two wives as they desire. The last classshould marry only one wife. 

2-3. All the righteous actsshould not be done in the company of women not belonging to one's own community. Oneshould marry only from his own community. (At the time of marriage) the warrior classshould hold the arrow, the tradesmenshould bear the toad and then the last community the fringe of a garment. A girlshould be given (in marriage) only once. One who abducts such a girl deserves the same punishment as for a thief. 

4-7. No atonement is laid down for one who sells his children. Marriage is said to consist of four kinds of acts such as kanyādāna (giving the girl as a gift), sachiyāga (rite relating to the wife of Indra), marriage and chaturthikä (the fourth one). Women are allowed to have another husband in the following five adversities—if (the first husband is) lost, dead, has become an ascetic, impotent or fallen morally. If (the husband) is dead, (she)should be given to the brother (of the deceased). In the absence (of a brother) (sheshould be given) as one wished. The three pūrvas (purvā, pūrväshādhā, pūrvaprostapadi), ágneya (kruttikā), vāyavya (svati), the three uttarās (utlarā, uttaráshādha, uttaräprostapadi) and rohiņi are the asterisms always commended for copulation. 

8-11. O Bhargava (Parasurama)! Oneshould not choose (the bride) from the same gotra or born in the line of same sage. (One may choose) from (descendants of) more than seven (generations) on the paternal side and more than five (generations) on the maternal side. Having invited a person endowed with good conduct and belonging to a good family and giving a girl as a gift is known as brähma (type of marriage). The lustre due to the offering of a girl as a gift always elevates men. Then the marriage accompanied by the offer of the gift of a pair of cows is spoken to be the arusha (variety of marriage). The offer made to one after solicitation (is known to be) prajapatya (variety of marriage) for the purpose of righteousness. It is asura (type of marriage in which the girl is offered) along with the purchase money. (It is considered as) the lowest. The marriage by mutual consent (is known as) gåndharva. (Marriage) by abduction after a battle (is known as) räkshasa (variety of marriage). (It is known as) thc paišāca (variety) if the girl is married after deceiving her. 

12. An image of Indraņi (wife of Indra)should be made with potter's earth on the marriage day.she (that image)should be worshipped at a pond and (then) the brideshould be taken inside the house accompanied by music. 

13-14. The marriageshould not be done when lord Keśava (Vishņu) sleeps¹ and also in (the months of) Pausa (December- January) and Chaitra (April-May), on Tuesday and on the days of riktā² and vishti.³ (The marriageshould also) never (be done) when Venus and Jupiter are not to be visible and the Moon has been eclipsed. (So also itshould not be done) in asterisms ruled by (the planets Sun, Saturn and Mars and days afflicted by vyatipäta.⁴ 

1. The four-month period commencing with the eleventh day of the bright half of the month of Asadha (June-July). 

2. The fourth, ninth and fourteenth days of a lunar fortnight.

 3. An adverse period. 

4. The day of the new Moon occurring on a Sunday and when the Moon is in a particular asterism. 

15. The asterisms (suitable) for (the performance of) a marriage (are) Mrugasirsha, Magha, Sväti, Hasta, Rohiņi, the three Uttaras (Uttara, Uttarashdha and Uttaraprostapadi), Müla, Anuradha and Revati. 

16-19. The ascendant and the amsha (subdivision of the stellar house) relating to a mortal are auspicious. (The planets) Sun, Saturn and Mercury in the third, sixth, tenth, eleventh and eighth (houses) are commendable. Mars in the eighth (is) not (commendable). All the other planets are commendable in the seventh, twelfth and eighth (houses). Even among them, Venus in the sixth from the sixth house is not commendable. (Just as the worship of Indråņi is done) in the asterism on the marriage day, the chaturthika (the rite on the fourth day of thc marriage)should also be done in the asterism of the marriage. The marriageshould not be performed if four planets are in the same house. Oneshould cohabit his wife only on days other than the parva (days) (the eighth and fourteenth days as well as the full-moon and newmoon days). When a truthful (girl) is given in marriage (there would be) pleasure always.