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.
नियुक्ता सा पितुर्गेहे ब्राह्मणातिथिपूजने। उग्रं पर्यचरत्तत्र ब्राह्मणं संशितब्रतम्
She was assigned in her father's house to the service of Brahmin guests, and there she attended upon a fierce and resolute Brahmin.
निगूढनिश्चयं धर्मे यं तं दुर्वाससं विदुः। तमुग्रं संशितात्मानं सर्वयत्नैरतोषयत्
That fierce sage, known as Durvāsas, whose intentions were hidden in dharma, she satisfied with all her efforts, for he was steadfast in his vows.
दध्याज्यकादिभिर्नित्यं व्यञ्जनैः प्रत्यहं शुभा। सहस्रसङ्ख्यैर्योगीन्द्रमुपचारदनुत्तमा
With curds, ghee, and other daily delicacies, in countless varieties, she constantly honored the yogi with unsurpassed hospitality.
दुर्वासा वत्सरस्यान्ते ददौ मन्त्रमनुत्तमम्'। यशस्विन्यै पृथायै तदापद्धर्मान्ववेक्षया। अभिचाराभिसंयुक्तमब्रवीच्चैव तां मुनिः
At the end of the year, Durvāsas gave the illustrious Pṛthā an excellent mantra, considering her adherence to dharma in adversity, and instructed her in its use for special purposes.
यं यं देवं त्वमेतेन मन्त्रेणावाहयिष्यसि। तस्य तस्य प्रभावेण तव पुत्रो भविष्यति
Whichever god you invoke with this mantra, by the power of that god, a son will be born to you.
तथोक्ता सा तु विप्रेण कुन्ती कौतूहलान्विता। कन्या सती देवमर्कमाजुहाव यशस्विनी
Thus instructed by the sage, Kuntī, filled with curiosity, invoked the god of the sun, remaining chaste and renowned.
ततो घनान्तरं कृत्वा स्वमार्गं तपनस्तदा। उपतस्थे स तां कन्यां पृथां पृथुललोचनाम्
Then, making his way through the clouds, the sun god approached that maiden, Pṛthā of broad eyes.
सा ददर्श तमायान्तं भास्करं लोकभावनम्। विस्मिता चानवद्याङ्गी दृष्ट्वा तन्महदद्भुतम्
She saw the radiant sun, the creator of the worlds, approaching; and, flawless in form, she was astonished at that great marvel.
आहूतोपस्थितं भद्रे ऋषिमन्त्रेण चोदितम्। विद्धि मां पुत्रलाभाय देवमर्कं शुचिस्मिते
Summoned and present, prompted by the sage's mantra, the sun god spoke: 'Know me, O pure-smiling one, to be the sun, come for the purpose of granting you a son.'
पुत्रस्ते निर्मितः सुभ्रु शृणु महादृक्छुभानने। आदित्ये कुण्डले बिभ्रत्कवचं चैव मामकम्
Your son, O beautiful-browed one, has been created—listen, O fair-faced one with great vision: he will bear my earrings and armor, born from the sun.