Shloka 65

Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 103 — Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Gāndhārī Vivāha: Proposal, Consent, and the Vow

Devanagari script

अम्बिकाम्बालिके भारयें प्रादाद्‌ भ्रात्रे यवीयसे । भीष्मो विचित्रवीर्याय विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा,शेष दो कन्याओंका नाम अम्बिका और अम्बालिका था। उन्हें भीष्मजीने शास्त्रोक्त विधिके अनुसार छोटे भाई विचित्रवीर्यको पत्नीरूपमें प्रदान किया

Transliteration

ambikāmbālike bhāryeṁ prādād bhrātre yavīyase | bhīṣmo vicitravīryāya vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Bhīṣma gab, dem von den Śāstras gebilligten Ritus folgend, Ambikā und Ambālikā seinem jüngeren Bruder Vicitravīrya als Gemahlinnen.

Word by Word

अम्बिकाAmbikā

अम्बालिकेAmbālikā (and Ambikā) (two women)

भार्येas wives (two wives)

प्रादात्gave

भ्रात्रेto (his) brother

यवीयसेto the younger (one)

भीष्मःBhīṣma

विचित्रवीर्यायto Vichitravīrya

विधिदृष्टेनprescribed by rule (as enjoined)

कर्मणाby the rite/act

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bhīṣma

Vicitravīrya

Ambikā

Ambālikā

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma as adherence to scriptural injunction and responsibility to family and kingdom: Bhīṣma acts not for personal desire but to uphold the continuity and legitimacy of the Kuru dynasty through a properly sanctioned marriage.

What is happening in the narrative?

After obtaining the princesses, Bhīṣma formally gives Ambikā and Ambālikā in marriage to his younger brother Vicitravīrya, performing the act according to prescribed ritual norms.