Shloka 19
Akṛtavraṇa’s Account Begins: Gādhi–Satyavatī–Ṛcīka and the Bhārgava Lineage Prelude
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु पृथिव्यां पृथिवीपति:,इसी समय इस भूतलपर कान्यकुब्जदेशमें एक महाबली महाराज शासन करते थे जो गाधिके नामसे विख्यात थे। वे राजधानी छोड़कर वनमें गये और वहीं रहने लगे। उनके वनवासकालमें ही एक कन्या उत्पन्न हुई जो अप्सराके समान सुन्दरी थी। भारत! विवाहके योग्य होनेपर भृगुपुत्र ऋचीक मुनिने उसका वरण किया
etasminn eva kāle tu pṛthivyāṃ pṛthivīpatiḥ | kānyakubjadeśe mahābalī mahārājaḥ śāsanaṃ cakāra yaḥ gādhir iti vikhyātaḥ | sa rājadhānīṃ tyaktvā vanaṃ jagāma tatraiva nyavasat | tasya vanavāsakāle kanyā samutpannā apsarasamā sundarī | bhārata! vivāhayogyāyāṃ bhṛguputra ṛcīko munis tasyā varaṇaṃ cakāra ||
Akṛtavraṇa said: “At that very time, on the earth, there ruled in the land of Kānyakubja a mighty king renowned by the name Gādhi. Leaving his capital behind, he went to the forest and lived there. During his period of forest-dwelling a daughter was born—beautiful like an apsaras. O Bhārata, when she came of marriageable age, the sage Ṛcīka, son of Bhṛgu, chose her as his bride.”
अकृतव्रण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights dharma through life-stages and roles: a king may adopt forest-dwelling for austerity, and marriage is presented as a socially sanctioned transition when one becomes vivāhayogya. It also frames ethical continuity through lineage and disciplined choices rather than mere power.
The narrator introduces King Gādhi of Kānyakubja, who leaves his capital to live in the forest. During this time a remarkably beautiful daughter is born. When she reaches marriageable age, the Bhārgava sage Ṛcīka chooses her, setting up an important genealogical episode.