सुबलस्य च कल्याणीं गान्धाराधिपतेः सुताम्। सुतां च मद्रराजस्य रूपेणाप्रतिमां भुवि
And also about the virtuous daughter of Subala, king of Gandhara, and the daughter of the king of Madra, unrivaled in beauty on earth.
कदाचिदथ गाङ्गेयः सर्वनीतिमतां वरः। विदुरं धर्मतत्त्वज्ञं वाक्यमाह यथोचितम्
Once, Bhishma, foremost among those skilled in statecraft, spoke fitting words to Vidura, knower of the essence of dharma.
गुणैः समुदितं सम्यगिदं नः प्रथितं कुलम्। अत्यन्यान्पृथिवीपालान्पृथिव्यामधिराज्यभाक्
Our lineage, endowed with virtues, is well-known; it has enjoyed sovereignty on earth above other kings.
रक्षितं राजभिः पूर्वं धर्मविद्भिर्महात्मभिः। नोत्सादमगमच्चेदं कदाचिदिह नः कुलम्
Protected in the past by righteous and great-souled kings, our line has never declined at any time.
मया च सत्यवत्या च कृष्णेन च महात्मना। समवस्थापित भूयो युष्मासु कुलतन्तुषु
By me, by Satyavati, and by the great-souled Krishna, the family line has again been established among you.
तच्चैतद्वर्धते भूयः कुलं सागरवद्यथा। तथा मया विधातव्यं त्वया चैव न संशयः
This lineage, like the ocean, is growing further; so must I and you, without doubt, act to ensure its increase.
श्रूयते यादवी कन्या स्वनुरूपा कुलस्य नः। सुबलस्यात्मजा चैव तथा मद्रेश्वरस्य च
It is heard that there are maidens of the Yadava line, suitable for our family, as well as the daughters of Subala and the king of Madra.
कुलीना रूपवत्यश्च ताः कन्याः पुत्र सर्वशः। उचिताश्चैव संबन्धे तेऽस्माकं क्षत्रियर्षभाः
All these maidens, my son, are of noble birth and beauty, and are suitable for alliance with us, O best of Kshatriyas.
मन्ये वरयितव्यास्ता इत्यहं धीमतां वर। सन्तानार्थं कुलस्यास्य यद्वा विदुर मन्यसे
I think these should be chosen, O best of the wise, for the continuation of this lineage, unless you, Vidura, think otherwise.
भवान्पिता भावन्माता भवान्नः परमो गुरुः। तस्मात्स्वयं कुलस्यास्य विचार्य कुरु यद्धितम्
You are our father, you are our mother, you are our supreme teacher; therefore, consider yourself what is best for this family and do it.
अथ शुश्राव विप्रेभ्यो गान्धारीं सुबलात्मजाम्। आराध्य वरदं देवं भगनेत्रहरं हरम्
Then he heard from the Brahmins about Gandhari, the daughter of Subala, who, after worshipping the boon-giving god Hara, the destroyer of Bhaga's eye, had received a blessing.
गान्धारी किल पुत्राणां शतं लेभे वरं शुभा। इति शुश्राव तत्त्वेन भीष्मः कुरुपितामहः
It was said that Gandhari, the auspicious one, had obtained the boon of a hundred sons; Bhishma, the grandsire of the Kurus, heard this as the truth.
ततो गान्धारराजस्य प्रेषयामास भारत। अचक्षुरिति तत्रासीत्सुबलस्य विचारणा
Then, O Bharata, he sent a message to the king of Gandhara; there was deliberation in Subala's house regarding the matter of blindness.
कुलं ख्यातिं च वृत्तं च बुद्ध्या तु प्रसमीक्ष्य सः। ददै तां धृतराष्ट्राय गान्धारीं धर्मचारिणीम्
Having examined the family, reputation, and conduct with discernment, he gave Gandhari, who followed righteousness, to Dhritarashtra.
गान्धारी त्वथ शुश्राव धृतराष्ट्रमचक्षुषम्। आत्मानं दिप्सितं चास्मै पित्रा मात्रा च भारत
Gandhari then heard that Dhritarashtra was blind, and that her father and mother had chosen her for him, O Bharata.
ततः सा पटमादाय कृत्वा बहुगुणं तदा। बबन्ध नेत्रे स्वे राजन्पतिव्रतपरायणा
Then, taking a cloth and making it many-fold, the devoted wife bound her own eyes, O King.
नाभ्यसूयां पतिमहमित्येवं कृतनिश्चया। ततो गान्धारराजस्य पुत्रः शकुनिरभ्ययात्
Firmly resolved, she said, 'I will not surpass my husband,' and then the son of the king of Gandhara, Shakuni, arrived.
स्वसारं परया लक्ष्म्या युक्तामादाय कौरवान्। तां तदा धृतराष्ट्राय ददौ परमसत्कृताम्। भीष्मस्यानुमते चैव विवाहं समकारयत्
Taking his sister, adorned with supreme beauty, to the Kauravas, he gave her to Dhritarashtra with great honor, and, with Bhishma's approval, performed the marriage.
दत्त्वा स भगिनीं वीरो यथार्हं च परिच्छदम्। पुनरायात्स्वनगरं भीष्मेण प्रतिपूजितः
Having given his sister and proper gifts, the hero returned to his own city, honored by Bhishma.
गान्धार्यपि वरारोहा शीलाचारविचिषेटितैः। तुष्टिं कुरूणां सर्वेषां जनयामास भारत
Gandhari, of noble form, by her conduct and virtues, brought satisfaction to all the Kurus, O Bharata.
गान्धारी सा पतिं दृष्ट्वा प्रज्ञाचक्षुषमीश्वरम्। अतिचाराद्भृशं भीता भर्तुः सा समचिन्तयत्
Gandhari, seeing her husband, the lord endowed with wisdom, became greatly fearful due to his transgression, and pondered over it.
सा दृष्टिविनिवृत्त्या हि भर्तुश्च समतां ययौ। नहि सूक्ष्मेप्यतीचारे भर्तुः सा ववृते तदा
By renouncing sight, she attained equality with her husband; she did not excel him even in the slightest matter.
वृत्तेनाराध्य तान्सर्वान्गुरून्पतिपरायणा। वाचापि पुरुषानन्यान्सुव्रता नान्वकीर्तयत्
Devoted to her husband, she pleased all the elders by her conduct, and, being of excellent vows, never spoke of other men.
तस्याः सहोदरीः कन्याः पुनरेव ददौ दश। गान्धारराजः सुबलो भीष्मेण च वृतस्तदा
The king of Gandhara, Subala, again gave ten of Gandhari's sisters, with Bhishma's consent.
सत्यव्रतां सत्यसेनां सुदेष्णां चापि संहिताम्। तेजश्श्र्वां सुश्रवां च तथैव निकृतिं शुभाम्
He gave Satyavrata, Satyasena, Sudeṣṇā, Saṃhitā, Tejaśrva, Suśrava, and likewise Nikṛti, the auspicious one.
शंभ्वठां च दशार्णां च गान्धारीर्दश विश्रुताः। एकाह्ना प्रतिजग्राह धृतराष्ट्रो जनेश्वरः
Śaṃbhvaṭhā, Daśārṇā, and ten renowned Gandharan maidens; Dhritarashtra, lord of men, accepted them all in a single day.
ततः शान्तनवो भीष्मो धानुष्कस्तास्ततस्ततः। अददाद्धृतराष्ट्रस्य राजपुत्रीः परश्शतम्
Then Bhishma, son of Shantanu, the bowman, gave a hundred royal maidens to Dhritarashtra.
शूरो नाम यदुश्रेष्ठो वसुदेवपिताऽभवत्। तस्य कन्या पृथा नाम रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि
There was a chief of the Yadus named Shura, who became the father of Vasudeva; his daughter, named Pritha, was unrivaled in beauty on earth.
पितृष्वस्रीयाय स तामनपत्याय भारत। अग्र्यमग्रे प्रतिज्ञाय स्वस्यापत्यं स सत्यवाक्
To his father's sister's son, who was childless, O Bhārata, he solemnly promised that his own child would be given, and he kept his word.
अग्रजामथ तां कन्यां शूरोऽनुग्रहकाङ्क्षिणे। प्रददौ कुन्तिभोजाय सखा सख्ये महात्मने
Then, that heroic elder gave the maiden to Kuntibhoja, his great-souled friend, who sought her favor, as a gesture of friendship.