Shloka 61
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 103 — Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Gāndhārī Vivāha: Proposal, Consent, and the Vow
मया सौभपति): पूर्व मनसा हि वृत: पति: । तेन चास्मि वृता पूर्वमेष कामश्न मे पितु:,“धर्मात्मन! मैंने पहलेसे ही मन-ही-मन सौभ नामक विमानके अधिपति राजा शाल्वको पतिरूपमें वरण कर लिया था। उन्होंने भी पूर्वकालमें मेरा वरण किया था। मेरे पिताजीकी भी यही इच्छा थी कि मेरा विवाह शाल्वके साथ हो
mayā saubhapatiḥ pūrvaṁ manasā hi vṛtaḥ patiḥ | tena cāsmi vṛtā pūrvam eṣa kāmaś ca me pituḥ ||
Ella dijo: «¡Oh varón de dharma! Ya antes, en mi corazón, había elegido por esposo a Śālva, señor de la ciudad aérea de Saubha. Y él también me había elegido tiempo atrás. Éste era asimismo el deseo de mi padre: que mi matrimonio fuese con Śālva».
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes the ethical weight of prior commitment: mutual choice (inner resolve) and parental approval are presented as morally significant grounds for a marriage claim, appealing to dharma in personal relationships.
A woman asserts that she had already chosen Śālva as her husband in her mind, that Śālva had also chosen her earlier, and that her father likewise desired their marriage—strengthening her claim through mutual and familial consent.