When the person desirous of marrying happens to be gifted with such qualities as do not go down with the girl's kinsmen, it is then that kinsmen demand dower from him. The person, however, who won over by another's accomplishments, says,—Do you marry my girl, adorning her with proper ornaments of gold and gems,—and that person who satisfies this request, cannot be said to demand dower or give it, for such a transaction is not a sale. The bestowal of a daughter upon acceptance of what may properly be considered as gifts is the eternal practice.
अन्यैर्गुणैरुपेतं तु शुल्कं याचन्ति बान्धवाः। अलंकृत्वा वहस्वेति यो दद्यादनुकूलतः॥ यच्च तां च ददत्येवं न शुल्कं विक्रयो न सः। प्रतिगृह्य भवेद् देयमेष धर्मः सनातनः॥