Shloka 29
Akṛtavraṇa’s Account Begins: Gādhi–Satyavatī–Ṛcīka and the Bhārgava Lineage Prelude
ततो गाधि: सुतां चास्मै जन्याश्वासन् सुरास्तदा | लब्ध्वा हयसहसंर॑ तु तांश्न दष्टवा दिवौकस:,जहाँ वे श्यामकर्ण घोड़े प्रकट हुए थे, वह स्थान अश्वतीर्थके नामसे विख्यात हुआ। तत्पश्चात् राजा गाधिने शुल्करूपमें एक हजार श्यामकर्ण घोड़े प्राप्त करके गंगातटपर कान्यकुब्ज नगरमें ऋचीक मुनिको अपनी पुत्री सत्यवती ब्याह दी! उस समय देवता बराती बने थे। देवता उन सबको देखकर वहाँसे चले गये
tato gādhiḥ sutāṃ cāsmāi janyāśvāsan surās tadā | labdhvā hayasahasraṃ tu tān dṛṣṭvā divaukasaḥ ||
Then King Gādhi gave his daughter to him (Ṛcīka), and at that time the gods themselves stood by as witnesses to the marriage. Having obtained the bride-price of a thousand horses, the celestial beings, after beholding those wondrous steeds, departed from that place. The episode underscores a socially sanctioned marriage alliance (with śulka) and the extraordinary, divinely connected means by which the required gift was secured.
अकृतव्रण उवाच