सत्वरूपगुणोपेता धर्मारामा महाव्रता। दुहिता कुन्तिभोजस्य पृथा पृथुललोचना
Endowed with beauty, virtue, and swift qualities, devoted to righteousness and great vows, was Pritha, the broad-eyed daughter of Kuntibhoja.
तां तु तेजस्विनीं कन्यां रूपयौवनशालिनीम्। व्यावृण्वन्पार्थिवाः केचिदतीव स्त्रीगुणैर्युताम्
That radiant maiden, possessing beauty and youth, was sought after by some kings, being exceedingly adorned with feminine virtues.
ततः सा कुन्तिभोजेन राज्ञाहूय नराधिपान्। पित्रा स्वयंवरे दत्ता दुहिता राजसत्तम
Then, Kuntibhoja, having invited the kings, gave his daughter in the svayaṃvara to the best of kings, by the will of her father.
ततः सा रङ्गमध्यस्थं तेषां राज्ञां मनस्विनी। ददर्श राजशार्दूलं पाण्डुं भरतसत्तमम्
There, standing in the midst of the assembly of kings, that noble lady beheld Pāṇḍu, the foremost among the Bharatas, a tiger among kings.
सिंहदर्पं महोरस्कं वृषभाक्षं महाबलम्। आदित्यमिव सर्वेषां राज्ञां प्रच्छाद्य वै प्रभाः
With the pride of a lion, broad-chested, bull-eyed, of great strength, he shone among all the kings like the sun, veiling their radiance.
तिष्ठन्तं राजसमितौ पुरन्दरमिवापरम्। तं दृष्ट्वा साऽनवद्याङ्गी कुन्तिभोजसुता शुभा
Standing in the royal assembly like another Indra, upon seeing him, that flawless-limbed, auspicious daughter of Kuntibhoja—
पाण्डुं नरवरं रङ्गे हृदयेनाकुलाऽभवत्। ततः कामपरीताङ्गी सकृत्प्रचलमानसा
—her heart was agitated for Pāṇḍu, the best of men, as he stood in the arena; then, her body overcome by desire, her mind wavering for a moment—
व्रीडमान स्रजं कुन्ती राज्ञः स्कन्धे समासजत्। तं निशम्य वृतं पाण्डुं कुन्त्या सर्वे नराधिपाः
Kuntī, bashful, placed the garland upon the king’s shoulder; and when they heard that Pāṇḍu had been chosen by Kuntī, all the kings—
यथागतं समाजग्मुर्गजैरश्वै रथैस्तथा। ततस्तस्याः पिता राजन्विवाहमकरोत्प्रभुः
—departed as they had come, on elephants, horses, and chariots; then her father, O King, performed the wedding ceremony.
स तया कुन्तिभोजस्य दुहित्रा कुरुनन्दनः। युयुजेऽमितसौभाग्यः पौलोम्या मघवानिव
Thus, the exceedingly fortunate Pāṇḍu, son of the Kurus, was united with Kuntibhoja’s daughter, just as Maghavan was with Paulomī.
कुन्त्याः पाण्डोश्च राजेन्द्र कुन्तिभोजो महीपतिः। कृत्वोद्वाहं तदा तं तु नानावसुभिरर्चितम्। स्वपुरं प्रेषयामास स राजा कुरुसत्तम
After the marriage of Kuntī and Pāṇḍu, King Kuntibhoja, having honored them with various treasures, sent them, O best of Kurus, to his own city.
ततो बलेन महता नानाध्वजपताकिना। स्तूयमानः स चाशीर्भिर्ब्राह्मणैश्च महर्षिभिः
Then, with a great army adorned with various banners, and praised with blessings by Brāhmaṇas and great sages—
संप्राप्य नगरं राजा पाण्डुः कौरवनन्दनः। न्यवेशत तां भार्यां कुन्तीं स्वभवने प्रभुः
—King Pāṇḍu, delight of the Kurus, reached his city and established Kuntī, his wife, in his own palace.
ततः शान्तनवो भीष्मो राज्ञः पाण्डोर्यशस्विनः। विवाहस्यापरस्यार्थे चकार मतिमान्मतिम्
Then Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, wise and renowned, considered the matter of another marriage for King Pāṇḍu.
सोऽमात्यैः स्थविरैः सार्धं ब्राह्मणैश्च महर्षिभिः। बलेन चतुरङ्गेण ययौ मद्रपतेः पुरम्
With his aged ministers, Brāhmaṇas, and great sages, and with a fourfold army, he went to the city of the king of Madra.
तमागतमभिश्रुत्य भीष्मं वाहीकपुङ्गवः। प्रत्युद्गम्यार्चयित्वा च पुरं प्रावेशयन्नृपः
Hearing of Bhīṣma’s arrival, the foremost of the Vāhīkas went out to meet him, honored him, and brought him into the city.
दत्त्वा तस्यासनं शुभ्रं पाद्यमर्घ्यं तथैव च। मधुपर्कं च मद्रेशः पप्रच्छागमनेऽर्थिताम्
The king of Madra offered him a splendid seat, water for washing feet, arghya, and madhuparka, and inquired about the purpose of his visit.
तं भीष्मः प्रत्युवाचेदं मद्रराजं कुरूद्वहः। आगतं मां विजानीहि कन्यार्थिनमरिन्दम
Bhīṣma, the glory of the Kurus, replied to the king of Madra: 'Know me to have come seeking a bride, O subduer of foes.'
श्रूयते भवतः साध्वी स्वसा माद्री यशस्विनी। तामहं वरयिष्यामि पाण्डोरर्थे यशस्विनीम्
'It is heard that your virtuous sister Mādrī is renowned; I wish to choose her as a bride for the illustrious Pāṇḍu.'
युक्तरूपो हि संबन्धे त्वं नो राजन्वयं तव। एतत्संचिन्त्य मद्रेश गृहाणास्मान्यथाविधि
'You are indeed suitable for alliance with us, O King, and our lineage matches yours; consider this, O king of Madra, and accept us as is proper.'
तमेवंवादिनं भीष्मं प्रत्यभाषत मद्रपः। न हि मेऽन्यो वरस्त्वत्तः श्रेयानिति मतिर्मम
To Bhishma, who spoke thus, the king of Madra replied: 'There is no other choice better than you; this is my conviction.'
पूर्वैः प्रवर्तितं किंचित्कुलेऽस्मिन्नृपसत्तमैः। साधु वा यदि वाऽसाधु तन्नातिक्रान्तुमुत्सहे
Whatever has been established by the noble ancestors in this lineage, whether good or not, I am unable to transgress it.
व्यक्तं तद्भवतश्चापि विदितं नात्र संशयः। न च युक्तं तथा वक्तुं भवान्देहीति सत्तम
This is clearly known to you as well; there is no doubt about it. And it is not proper for you, O noble one, to speak in such a manner.
कुलधर्मः स नो वीर प्रमाणं परमं च तत्। तेन त्वां न ब्रवीम्येतदसंदिग्धं वचोऽरिहन्
The tradition of the family, O hero, is our highest authority. Therefore, I do not say this to you with any uncertainty, O destroyer of foes.
तं भीष्मः प्रत्युवाचेदं मद्रराजं जनाधिपः। धर्म एष परो राजन्स्वयमुक्तः स्वयंभुवा
Bhishma, the lord of men, replied to the king of Madra: 'This is the supreme dharma, O king, declared by the Self-born himself.'
नात्र कश्चन दोषोऽस्ति पूर्वैर्विधिरयं कृतः। विदितेयं च ते शल्य मर्यादा साधुसंमता
There is no fault here; this rule was established by the ancestors. And this boundary, O Shalya, is known to you and approved by the virtuous.
इत्युक्त्वा स महातेजाः शातकुम्भं कृताकृतम्। रत्नानि च विचित्राणि शल्यायादात्सहस्रशः
Having spoken thus, the mighty Bhishma gave to Shalya thousands of crafted and uncrafted golden vessels and various precious gems.
गजानश्वान्रथांश्चैव वासांस्याभरणानि च। मणिमुक्ताप्रवालं च गाङ्गेयो व्यसृजच्छुभम्
Ganga's son bestowed auspicious gifts: elephants, horses, chariots, garments, ornaments, and strings of jewels, pearls, and coral.
तत्प्रगृह्य धनं सर्वं शल्यः संप्रतीमानसः। ददौ तां समलङ्कृत्य स्वसारं कौरवर्षभे
Taking all that wealth, Shalya, his mind satisfied, adorned his sister and gave her to the bull among the Kauravas.
स तां माद्रीमुपादाय भीष्मः सागरगासुतः। आजगाम पुरीं धीमान्प्रविष्टो गजसाह्वयम्
Bhishma, the wise son of the ocean-born, took Madri and entered the city called Elephant-gate.