Chapter 9 — Uttara Kanda, Sarga 9

Valmiki Ramayana — Uttara Kanda

Verse 9.6

कन्यापितृत्वं दुःखं हि सर्वेषां मानकाङ्क्षिणाम्। न ज्ञायते च कः कन्यां वरयेदिति कन्यके॥

kanyāpitṛtvaṃ duḥkhaṃ hi sarveṣāṃ mānakāṅkṣiṇām| na jñāyate ca kaḥ kanyāṃ varayediti kanyake||

English Meaning

The being father to a daughter is misery to every one that seekes honour. O daughter, one does not know who shall ask for one's daughter.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)