# SB 9.18.5 > श्रीराजोवाच > ब्रह्मर्षिर्भगवान्काव्यः क्षत्रबन्धुश्च नाहुषः > राजन्यविप्रयोः कस्माद्विवाहः प्रतिलोमकः ॥५॥ ## Text > śrī-rājovāca > brahmarṣir bhagavān kāvyaḥ > kṣatra-bandhuś ca nāhuṣaḥ > rājanya-viprayoḥ kasmād > vivāhaḥ pratilomakaḥ ## Synonyms *śrī-rājā uvāca*—Mahārāja Parīkṣit inquired; *brahma-ṛṣiḥ*—the best of the *brāhmaṇas*; *bhagavān*—very powerful; *kāvyaḥ*—Śukrācārya; *kṣatra-bandhuḥ*—belonged to the *kṣatriya* class; *ca*—also; *nāhuṣaḥ*—King Yayāti; *rājanya-viprayoḥ*—of a *brāhmaṇa* and a *kṣatriya*; *kasmāt*—how; *vivāhaḥ*—a marital relationship; *pratilomakaḥ*—against the customary regulative principles. ## Translation **Mahārāja Parīkṣit said: Śukrācārya was a very powerful brāhmaṇa, and Mahārāja Yayāti was a kṣatriya. Therefore I am curious to know how there occurred this pratiloma marriage between a kṣatriya and a brāhmaṇa.** ## Purport According to the Vedic system, marriages between *kṣatriyas* and *kṣatriyas* or between *brāhmaṇas* and *brāhmaṇas* are the general custom. If marriages sometimes take place between different classes, these marriages are of two types, namely *anuloma* and *pratiloma. Anuloma,* marriage between a *brāhmaṇa* and the daughter of a *kṣatriya,* is permissible, but *pratiloma,* marriage between a *kṣatriya* and the daughter of a *brāhmaṇa,* is not generally allowed. Therefore Mahārāja Parīkṣit was curious about how Śukrācārya, a powerful *brāhmaṇa,* could accept the principle of *pratiloma.* Mahārāja Parīkṣit was eager to know the cause for this uncommon marriage.