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**Somasen Bhattaraka Composed -**
... After marriage, the couple should remain celibate for three nights. They should not engage in sexual intercourse or other such activities. Afterwards, they should sleep together, sit together, and eat together. The latter half of the verse also has this reading:
They should sleep and sit on the ground. They should eat food without salt or alkali. ||172||
The groom should reside with his wife in his father-in-law's house.
Some say that this should be done on the fourth day. ||173||
Further, the author quotes the words of the Paramatma Smriti, writing "Atha Paramatmamrti Vachanam".
If any defects are found in the groom on the fourth day,
Then the wise say that the father should give the daughter to another man, even if she has already been given. ||174||
The fourth ritual, called "Paani-Pidan", or before the Saptapadi, if a defect in the form of a fall from caste, a low caste, or misconduct is found in the groom, then the father of the girl, even if she has been given in betrothal, should give her to another groom of a higher caste or with other good qualities. This is the opinion of the wise. So, it is said in the Yajnavalkya Smriti:
Even if she has been given, if a better groom comes,
The Mitakshara Commentary - If a groom comes who is superior to the previous groom in terms of knowledge, lineage, or other qualities, and the previous groom has committed a sin or is of bad character, then the daughter, even if she has been given, should be taken away. This should be understood before the Saptapadi.
The meaning of this is that if a better groom is found, who is superior in knowledge, lineage, caste, etc., to the first groom, with whom the betrothal has been done, and the first groom has fallen from caste or is guilty of misconduct, then the daughter, even if she has been given in betrothal, should not be given to the first groom. This rule should be understood before the Saptapadi. The words "Datta" and "Datva" etc. in this context have been interpreted by the commentators as "given in betrothal" or "given by word". For example:
He who takes away a daughter after giving her in betrothal is punishable by the king, and he should pay a fine with interest.
Commentary - He who takes away a daughter after giving her in betrothal by word is punishable by the king according to the law of property. This is in the absence of a reason for taking her away. If there is a reason, then the daughter, even if she has been given, should be taken away if a better groom comes. This is because the taking away is permitted. And whatever wealth has been spent by the groom or his relatives for the purpose of betrothal, that should be given back to the groom with interest by the father of the girl.
The meaning is that if the father of the girl gives his daughter in betrothal and then, without any reason, does not marry her to the groom, then the king should punish him according to his ability. But if there is a reason for not giving her, as per the saying "Dattaapi Hareth", etc., then he should not be punished. And whatever wealth has been spent by the groom for the purpose of betrothal, that should be given back to the groom with interest by the father of the girl.