01.103
Core:Dhritarstra marries Gandhari
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
guṇaiḥ samuditaṁ samyag idaṁ naḥ prathitaṁ kulam । atyan yān pṛthivīpālān pṛthivyām adhirājyabhāk ॥1॥
This lineage of ours, rightly endowed with virtues, has become renowned; it has surpassed other kings and enjoyed sovereignty over the earth.
rakṣitaṁ rājabhiḥ pūrvair dharmavidbhir mahātmabhiḥ । notsādam agamac cedaṁ kadācid iha naḥ kulam ॥2॥
This lineage of ours, protected by great and righteous kings, has never suffered ruin at any time.
mayā ca satyavatyā ca kṛṣṇena ca mahātmanā । samavasthāpitaṁ bhūyo yuṣmāsu kulatantuṣu ॥3॥
By me, Satyavatī, and the great Vyāsa, this lineage was once again firmly established among you.
vardhate tad idaṁ putra kulaṁ sāgaravad yathā । tathā mayā vidhātavyaṁ tvayā caiva viśeṣataḥ ॥4॥
This lineage, O son, grows like the ocean; therefore it must be preserved by me and especially by you.
śrūyate yādavī kanyā anurūpā kulasya naḥ । subalasya ātmajā caiva tathā madreśvarasya ca ॥5॥
A Yādava maiden is heard to be suitable for our lineage, as are the daughters of Subala and the king of Madra.
kulīnā rūpavatyaś ca nāthavatyaś ca sarvaśaḥ । ucitāś caiva sambandhe te'smākaṁ kṣatriyarṣabhāḥ ॥6॥
They are noble-born, beautiful, well-protected, and altogether fit for alliance, O best of Kṣatriyas.
manye varayitavyās tā ity ahaṁ dhīmatāṁ vara । santānārthaṁ kulasyāsya yad vā vidura manyase ॥7॥
I think they should be chosen, O wise Vidura, for the sake of continuing the lineage—or as you consider best.
vidura uvāca॥
Vidura said.
bhavān pitā bhavān mātā bhavān naḥ paramo guruḥ । tasmāt svayaṁ kulasyāsya vicārya kuru yad hitam ॥8॥
You are our father, mother, and supreme guide; therefore, do yourself what is best for this lineage after due consideration.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
atha śuśrāva viprebhyo gāndhārīṁ subalātmajām । ārādhya varadaṁ devaṁ bhaganetraharaṁ haram ॥ gāndhārī kila putrāṇāṁ śataṁ lebhe varaṁ śubhā ॥9॥
He heard from brāhmaṇas that Gāndhārī, daughter of Subala, had obtained a boon from Śiva after worshiping him: the auspicious one would bear a hundred sons.
iti śrutvā ca tattvena bhīṣmaḥ kurupitāmahaḥ । tato gāndhārarājasya preṣayāmāsa bhārata ॥10॥
Hearing this truth, Bhīṣma, the grandsire of the Kurus, sent a message to the king of Gāndhāra, O Bhārata.
acakṣur iti tatrāsīt subalasya vicāraṇā । kulaṁ khyātiṁ ca vṛttaṁ ca buddhyā tu prasamīkṣya saḥ ॥ dadau tāṁ dhṛtarāṣṭrāya gāndhārīṁ dharmacāriṇīm ॥11॥
Though Dhṛtarāṣṭra was blind, Subala deliberated and, examining his lineage, fame, and conduct, gave his daughter Gāndhārī, a righteous woman, in marriage to him.
gāndhārī tv api śuśrāva dhṛtarāṣṭram acakṣuṣam । ātmānaṁ ditsitaṁ cāsmai pitrā mātrā ca bhārata ॥12॥
Gāndhārī also heard that Dhṛtarāṣṭra was blind and that she was being given to him by her father and mother, O Bhārata.
tataḥ sā paṭṭam ādāya kṛtvā bahuguṇaṁ śubhā । babandha netre sve rājan pativrataparāyaṇā ॥ nātyaśnīyāṁ patim aham ity evaṁ kṛtaniścayā ॥13॥
Then the auspicious Gāndhārī, firmly devoted to her husband, took a many-folded cloth and bound her own eyes, declaring, “I shall not see more than my husband.”
tato gāndhārarājasya putraḥ śakunir abhyayāt । svasāraṁ parayā lakṣmyā yuktām ādāya kauravān ॥14॥
Then Śakuni, son of the Gāndhāra king, came to the Kauravas, bringing his sister adorned with great beauty.
dattvā sa bhaginīṁ vīro yathārhaṁ ca paricchadam । punar āyāt sva-nagaraṁ bhīṣmeṇa pratipūjitaḥ ॥15॥
Having given his sister with befitting dowry, the hero returned to his city, honored by Bhīṣma.
gāndhāry api varārohā śīlācāraviceṣṭitaiḥ । tuṣṭiṁ kurūṇāṁ sarveṣāṁ janayām āsa bhārata ॥16॥
Gāndhārī, of excellent form, by her noble conduct and actions, brought joy to all the Kurus, O Bhārata.
vṛtten ārādhya tān sarvān pativrataparāyaṇā । vācāpi puruṣān anyān suvratā nānvakīrtayat ॥17॥
By her conduct she pleased all, and being devoted to her husband, the virtuous Gāndhārī did not even speak of other men.
