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The first authoritative English rendering of that topmost Vedic scripture, the Srimad Bhagavatam, was presented to the world by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Verse 1.3.43 of this text originally compiled 5,000 years ago by Srila Vyasadeva (the literary incarnation of Lord Krishna) states: "This Bhagavata Purana is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Krishna to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the age of Kali shall get light from this Purana (history)."
To throw light on this scripture for the benefit of today's readers bewildered by the influence of this Kali age, Srila Prabhupada wrote in-depth commentaries on many verses while translating from the original Sanskrit. These writings are collectively known as the Bhaktivedanta Purports. While elaborating on verse 9.18.23 regarding the Vedic king Yayati's controversial marriage to a higher class woman, Srila Prabhupada explains below some details of the Marriage Test and the consequences of ignoring it: |
"According to the Vedic system, the parents would consider the horoscopes of the boy and girl who were to be married. If according to astrological calculations the boy and girl were compatible in every respect, the match was called yotaka and the marriage would be accepted. Even fifty years ago, this system was current in Hindu society. Regardless of the affluence of the boy or the personal beauty of the girl, without this astrological compatibility the marriage would not take place.
A person is born in one of three categories, known as deva-gana, manusya-gana and raksasa-gana. In different parts of the universe there are demigods and demons, and in human society also some people resemble demigods whereas others resemble demons. If according to astrological calculations there was conflict between a godly and a demoniac nature, the marriage would not take place.
Similarly, there were calculations of pratiloma and anuloma. The central idea is that if the boy and girl were on an equal level the marriage would be happy, whereas inequality would lead to unhappiness. Because care is no longer taken in marriage, we now find many divorces. Indeed, divorce has now become a common affair, although formerly one's marriage would continue lifelong, and the affection between husband and wife was so great that the wife would voluntarily die when her husband died or would remain a faithful widow throughout her entire life. Now, of course, this is no longer possible, for human society has fallen to the level of animal society.
Marriage now takes place simply by agreement. Dampatye bhirucir hetuh (Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.3). The word abhiruci means agreement. If the boy and girl simply agree to marry, the marriage takes place. But when the Vedic system is not rigidly observed, marriage frequently ends in divorce."