The Mahabharata
Book 1: Adi Parva
Kisari Mohan Ganguli, tr.
[1883-1896]
SECTION CX
(Sambhava Parva continued)
"Bhishma said, 'This our celebrated race, resplendent with every virtue and
accomplishment, hath all along sovereignty over all other monarchs on earth. Its
glory maintained and itself perpetuated by many virtuous and illustrious monarchs
of old, the illustrious Krishna (Dwaipayana) and Satyavati and myself have raised
you (three) up, in order that it may not be extinct. It behoveth myself and thee
also to take such steps that this our dynasty may expand again as the sea. It
hath been heard by me that there are three maidens worthy of being allied to our
race. One is the daughter of (Surasena of) the Yadava race; the other is the daughter
of Suvala; and the third is the princess of Madra. O son, all these maidens are
of course of blue blood. Possessed of beauty and pure blood, they are eminently
fit for an alliance with our family. O thou foremost of intelligent men, I think
we should choose them for the growth of our race. Tell me what thou thinkest.'
Thus addressed, Vidura replied, 'Thou art our father and thou art our mother,
too. Thou art our respected spiritual instructor. Therefore, do thou what may
be best for us in thy eyes.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Soon after Bhishma heard from the Brahmanas that
Gandhari, the amiable daughter of Suvala, having worshipped Hara (Siva) had obtained
from the deity the boon that she should have a century of sons. Bhishma, the grandfather
of the Kurus, having heard this, sent messengers unto the king of Gandhara. King
Suvala at first hesitated on account of the blindness of the bridegroom, but taking
into consideration the blood of the Kurus, their fame and behaviour, he gave his
virtuous daughter unto Dhritarashtra and the chaste Gandhari hearing that Dhritarashtra
was blind and that her parents had consented to marry her to him, from love and
respect for her future husband, blindfolded her own eyes. Sakuni, the son of Suvala,
bringing unto the Kurus his sister endued with youth and beauty, formally gave
her away unto Dhritarashtra. And Gandhari was received with great respect and
the nuptials were celebrated with great pomp under Bhishma's directions. And the
heroic Sakuni, after having bestowed his sister along with many valuable robes,
and having received Bhishma's adorations, returned to his own city. And, O thou
of Bharata's race, the beautiful Gandhari gratified all the Kurus by her behaviour
and respectful attentions. And Gandhari, ever devoted to her husband, gratified
her superiors by her good conduct; and as she was chaste, she never referred even
by words to men other than her husband or such superiors.'"
