Marriage

Manu Bhagwan clearly defines the duties of a man and a woman engaged in a conjugal relationship, which is prescribed by the divine laws. Let's now see the rules of a marriage etc..

Na Daathva Kasya Chit Kanyaam Punardhya: Vichakshana:
Dathva Puna: Prayachanhi prapnothi purusho nrutham:

Desc: Having given away his daughter in a wedlock to a man, the father should never get his daughter re-married. It's a grave sin to do such illegal marriages, which are never authorized by the scriptures. Modern day women (of all varnas and religions) use the law of divorce for their convenience and try to remarry someone,of their interest. Such kind of acts are grave sins and the courts of law should never entertain such activities.  In a Vedic wedding the girl's father washes the groom's legs, feeds him Madhuparka and pleads the bridegroom to take care of his daughter for her lifetime. So under no circumstances the girl's father breech his agreement with the groom and in turn with the Scriptures and divine laws for financial or other selfish motives. Divorce and re-marriage are both not allowed (both for men and women) in the Vedic religion. 

Vidhivath Prathigrunabhi Tyajeth Kanyaam vigarhithaam
Vyaadhithaam Virpadushtaam Vaa Chagnaana Chopapaathithaam

Desc: In the sloka Manu Bhagwan declares the invalidity of fraudulent marriages  If the father of a girl, gives away a girl with inauspicious qualities and symptoms - like diseases  inauspicious body organs (like a hairy body, mustache  lack of feminine qualities, non-adherence to the divine scriptures etc.., a girl who had already had sex several times before marriage,etc.) ins 100% invalid. Such marriages, even if done in a methodical manner, could be dismissed. Modern day courts of law do not grant true justice , but int he divine court of Manu Bhagwan, only truth and loyalty would be honored. False accusations on the name of woman rights etc. would never be entertained.

Proshithe Dharma Kaaryaartham Prateekshyo ashtai: Nara Sama:
Vidyaartham Shad Yashortham Vaa Kamaartham Thrimsthy Vatsaraan:

Desc: Here Manu talks about the no. of years, a Dharma Pathni waits for a husband has traveled out of town. Modern women of the Vedic land, who apply for divorce within 3 months of marriage should be punished heavily and should be educated of our glorious Dharmas. If a husband travels to another country or town for the sake of Dharmic reasons, then the wife waits for 8 years. If he visits a foreign land for the sake of education she waits for her Lord for 6 years and if he visits another country for meeting / uniting another wife etc.. then she waits for 3 years. The most important thing to be noted here is that, a woman is tolerant and patient and waits before she decides to "run Away" or take exile in her parent's home for good. Even in that case, divorce hasn't been prescribed.

Samvathsaram Prateekshetha Dvipantheem Yoshitham Pathi:
Oordhvam Samvathsaraathvenaam Daayam Hyathva Na Sam Vaseth

Desc: Now Manu talks about the time period, as husband should wait for a woman. Usually women of those days were house wives and would be present with the husband allt he times. If they happen to be hostile and fighting and non-cooperative a husband has to give her several chances to improve and wait for one year. If that wife still  remains extremely combative and dis-obedient, then he can marry another wife for the sake of having kids and a harmonious life. But there must be enough justification for this - a man just cannot marry or remarry for time pass (like how a modern woman does today). So, truthfulness and honesty are expected by default by Manu Bhagwan. Men, who would take advantage of this rule to practice polygamy are doing nothing but reserving compartments in the train leading to Hell. But legitimate men, who have tried to be patient / co-operative with a woman for more than an year can happily remarry without any guilt. Even after re-marriage the first wife should be taken care of by the husband. (again divorce isn't an option here at all. )

Unmatham Pathitham Kleebam Abheejam Paaparoginam
Na Thyagosthi Dvishanthyaascha Na Cha Daya Parvathanam

A wife, who does not server or nurse or take care of a husband, who is kind of dumb, degraded, un-masculine, impotent man, who is suffering from a sinful disease - should be protected by the husband still. She cannot be abandoned on the grounds of dis-loyalty considering the conditions of the man. The woman can happily enjoy her life in her husband's home but must never go for a divorce or anything.

Madhyapaa Sadhuvrutha Cha Prathikoola Cha Yaa Bhaveth
Vyaadhithaa Vaadhivethavyaa Himsthraathagim Cha Sarvada

Desc:  The husband of a woman, who has become a drunkard, faithless, hostile,invalid, extremely hot tempered, uncontrollable, dis-obedient woman can remarry without any second thought. ( and protect the first wife if she wants to live with him ). Anyone of these qualities is enough to declare a woamn to be unfit for household. Extreme arrogance is a common quality which dis-qualifies a woman for household.

Bandhya: Ashtame Dhi VEdhya: Aabdhe Dashame Thu Mrutha Praja:
Ekadashe Sthree janani Sadhya: Thva Apriya Vaadini

Desc: A man may remarry another wife after 8 years if the woman is sterile, 10 years if all her kids die in infancy or in the womb, 11 years if she gives birth only to women and   immediately if she is harsh tongued. Living with a quarrelsome woman is like living with a snake. Such women should never be spared or given any consideration one can re-marry without any guild if a woman is quarrelsome. For all other cases, with the advancement of science , test-tube baby, artificial insemination etc.. re-marriage may not have to happen.

Yaa rogani Syaathu Hithaa Sampanna Chaiva Sheelitha:
Saa Anugna: Api Vethavya Naa Avamaanya Cha Kaarhichith

Desc: If  a wife, who is of very good conduct, noble qualities and is loyal, truthful to her husband falls sick, then that husband can remarry upon her request or permission. A husband must never hurt such a woman . If such a noble wife does not agree for re-marriage an man must not marry again. Manu Bhagwan out-beats all those shameless hypocrites, who claim to talk about equal rights for women. Such is the glory of Vedic religion. So, opportunistic men who would cheat their sick and fragile wives would be heavily punished by this law.

Adhii Vinna Thu Yaa Naree Nirgachad Drushitha Gruhaath
Sa Sadhya: Sannirodhyava Thyaagyaa Va Kula Sannidhou

Desc: In all the above cases, where lawful remarriage is allowed, the first or previous wife is supposed to be taken care by that husband. But if the first wife would leave the home out of anger (and harm herself) , the husband must keep her (locked) inside the home for her protection. If that lady isn't co-operative then, he should leave her to her father's home for good. That is for the protection of the woman.