SECTION 110
(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 Subala; 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. 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 Subala, 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 Subala 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 Subala,
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,
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.'"
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