आयोधनदर्शनम्
Viewing the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra
पतिव्रता महाभागा समानव्रतचारिणी । उग्रेण तपसा युक्ता सततं सत्यवादिनी,गान्धारी बड़ी ही पतिव्रता, परम सौभाग्यवती, पतिके समान व्रतका पालन करनेवाली, उग्र तपस्यासे युक्त तथा सदा सत्य बोलनेवाली थीं
patīvratā mahābhāgā samānavratacāriṇī | ugreṇa tapasā yuktā satataṁ satyavādinī ||
Gāndhārī adalah istri yang amat setia, mulia dan beruntung; ia menjalankan laku-vrata seirama dengan suaminya, teguh dalam tapa yang keras, dan senantiasa berkata benar.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse elevates ethical virtues—marital fidelity (patīvratā), rigorous self-discipline (tapas), and unwavering truthfulness (satyavāda)—as sources of moral stature, especially significant in a post-war setting where grief and judgment require integrity.
Vaiśampāyana introduces and characterizes Gāndhārī by listing her defining virtues, preparing the reader to understand her role and authority in the Strī Parva’s scenes of mourning and reflection after the Kurukṣetra war.