भीष्म उवाच गुणैः समुदितं सम्यगिदं नः प्रथितं कुलम्। अत्यन्यान् पृथिवीपालान् पृविव्यामधिराज्यभाक्॥
Bhishma said : This our famous dynasty, endued with every virtue and accomplishment, has all along ruled over all other kings on earth.
रक्षितं राजभिः पूर्वं धर्मविद्भिर्महात्मभिः। नोत्सादमगमचेदं कदाचिदिह नःकुलम्॥ मया च सत्यवत्या च कृष्णेन च महात्मना। समवस्थापितं भूयो युष्मासु कुलतन्तुषु॥
It was perpetuated by many virtuousminded and virtuously inclined kings. Satyavati, the illustrious Krishna (Dvaipayana) and myself, have raised you up in order that this our great dynasty may not be extinct.
तचैतद् वर्धते भूयः कुलं सागरवद् यथा। तथा मया विधातव्यं त्वया चैव न संशयः॥
It is certainly your duty and mine to take such steps as our this dynasty may expand as the sea. we
श्रूयते यादवी कन्या स्वानुरूपा कुलस्य नः। सुबलस्यात्मजा चैव तथा मद्रेश्वरस्य च॥
I have heard that the princess of the Yadavas, the daughter of Subala and the princess of Madra, are worthy of being allied to our dynasty.
कुलीना रूपवत्यश्च ताः कन्याः पुत्र सर्वशः। उचिताश्चैव सम्बन्धे तेऽस्माकं क्षत्रियर्षभाः॥
O sons, all these maidens are the best of Kshatriyas; they are beautiful and of are birth; they are eminently fit for alliance with our family.
मन्ये वरयितव्यास्ता इत्यहं धीमतां वर। संतानार्थं कुलस्यास्य यद् वा विदुर मन्यसे॥
O foremost of intelligent men, Vidura, I think should chose them for the perpetuation of our race. Tell me what you think.
विदुर उवाच भवान् पिता भवान् माता भवान् नः परमो गुरुः। कुलस्यास्य विचार्य कुरु यद्धितम्॥
Vidura said: You are our father, you are our mother, you are our great preceptor. You yourself do what you think proper for the welfare of this dynasty.
वैशम्पायन उवाच अथ शुश्राव विप्रेभ्यो गान्धारी सुबलात्मजाम्। आराध्य वरदं देवं भगनेत्रहरं हरम्॥ गान्धारी किल पुत्राणां शतं लेभे वरं शुभा। इति शुश्राव तत्त्वेन भीष्मः कुरुपितामहः॥ ततो गान्धारराजस्य प्रेषयामास भारत। अचक्षुरिति तत्रासीत् सुबलस्य विचारणा॥ तस्मात् स्वयं
Vaishampayana said: He (Bhishma) heard from the Brahmanas that the daughter of Subala, Gandhari, had received a boon by worshipping the destroyer of eyes of Bhaga, the boon-giving deity Hara (Shibi). The amiable, Gandhari would get one hundred sons. Having heard this, the grandsire of the Kurus, Bhishma, sent messengers to the king of Gandhara. O descendant of the Bharata race, (king) Subala hesitated on account of the blindness (of the bridegroom).
कुलं ख्यातिं च वृत्तं च बुद्ध्या तु प्रसमीक्ष्य सः। ददौ तां धृतराष्ट्राय गान्धारी धर्मचारिणीम्॥
But taking into consideration the noble blood, the fame and the conduct of the Kurus, he bestowed the virtuous Gandhari on Dhritarashtra.
गान्धारी त्वथ सुश्राव धृतराष्ट्रमचक्षुषम्। आत्मानं दित्सितं चास्मै पित्रा मात्रा च भारत॥ ततः सा पट्टमादाय कृत्वा बहुगुणं तदा। बबन्ध नेत्रे स्वे राजन् पतिव्रतपरायणा॥ नाभ्यसूयां पतिमहमित्येवं कृतनिश्चया। ततो गान्धारराजस्य पुत्रः शकुनिरभ्ययात्॥ स्वसारं वयसा लक्ष्या युक्तामादाय कौरवान्। तां तदा धृतराष्ट्राय ददौ परमसत्कृताम्। भीष्मस्यानुमते चैव विवाहं समकारयत्॥
O descendant of the Bharata race, having heard of the blindness of Dhritarashtra and that her parents had consented to bestow her (Gandhari) upon him. O king, ever-devoted to her husband, (Gandhari) bandaged her own eyes with cloth, gathered into many folds, out of her desire that she would not be wanting in respect and love for her husband. Thereupon, the son of the king of Gandhara, Shakuni bringing his beautiful and young and wellbehaved sister to the Kurus, formally gave her to Dhritarashtra.
दत्त्वा स भगिनीं वीरो यथार्ह च परिच्छदम्। पुनरायात् स्वनगरं भीष्मेण प्रतिपूजितः॥
The nuptials were solemnised with the permission of Bhishma. The hero (Shakuni), giving away his sister with (many valuable) robes, returned to his own capital, after being duly worshipped by Bhishma.
गान्धार्यपि वरारोहा शीलाचारविचेष्टितैः। तुष्टिं कुरूणां सर्वेषां जनयामास भारत॥
O descendant of the Bharata race, the beautiful Gandhari pleased all the Kurus by her behaviour and respectful attentions.
वृत्तेनाराध्य तान् सर्वान् गुरून् पतिपरायणा। वाचापि पुरुषानन्यान् सुव्रता नान्वकीर्तयत्॥
She, ever-devoted to her husband, pleased her superiors by her good conduct and vowobserving as she was, she never referred to other men even in words.