शास्त्रं वदति- 7

Saastram speaks -7
The following verse is from the ninth chapter of Manu smriti.

It says- Let a girl wait for three years, though she is of marriageable age. After that period she can choose a husband by herself who can be of equal caliber.

त्रीणि वर्षाण्युदीक्षेत कुमारी ऋतुमती सती।
ऊर्ध्वं तु कालात् एतस्मात् विन्देत सदृशं पतिम् ।। (9- 90)

trīṇi varṣāṇyudīkṣeta kumārī ṛtumatī satī
ūrdhvaṁ tu kālāt etasmāt vindeta sadṛśaṁ patim (9- 90)

कुमारी – A girl, ऋतुमती सती – after attaining the suitable age, त्रीणि- three, वर्षाणि- years, उदीक्षेत- wait, ऊर्ध्वं – above, एतस्मात् – that, कालात् – time or period, सदृशं- suitable or equal, पतिम्- husband, विन्देत –select or choose.

शास्त्रं वदति – 6

Saastram speaks -6
The following verse is from the ninth chapter of Manu smriti.

It says - A girl can remain in her father’s place or stay alone for her life time, if she did not get a suitable husband. The father should not give her to a man, who is devoid of good qualities.

काममामरणात् तिष्ठेत् कन्या ऋतुमत्यपि ।
न चैवैनां प्रयच्छेत्तु गुणहीनाय कर्हिचित् ।। (9- 89)

kāmamāmaraṇāt tiṣṭhet kanyā ṛtumatyapi
na caivaināṁ prayacchettu guṇahīnāya karhicit (9- 89)

कन्या – A Girl , ऋतुमत्यपि – Even after coming to a marriageable age, कामम् – according to her wish , आमरणात्- till the end of her life , तिष्ठेत् – remain.
च – and, न कर्हिचित् - never to , प्रयच्छेत्- give, एनां – her, गुणहीनाय – to a person devoid of good qualities,