Shloka 48
आदि पर्व, अध्याय 96 — काश्यकन्याहरणं, शाल्वसमागमः, अम्बावचनं च
Kāśī princesses taken; encounter with Śālva; Ambā’s declaration
भीष्फ:ः खलु॒ पितु:ः प्रियचिकीर्षया सत्यवतीं मातरमुदवाहयत्; यामाहुर्गन्धकालीति,भीष्मने अपने पिताका प्रिय करनेकी इच्छासे उनके साथ माता सत्यवतीका विवाह कराया; जिसे गन्धकाली भी कहते हैं
Vaiśampāyana uvāca — Bhīṣmaḥ khalu pituḥ priyacikīrṣayā Satyavatīṃ mātaram udavāhayat; yām āhur Gandhakālīti.
Vaiśampāyana said: Indeed Bhīṣma, wishing to do what was dear to his father, arranged the marriage of Satyavatī—his mother—(to his father). She is also spoken of as Gandhakālī. The episode highlights Bhīṣma’s deliberate self-effacement and filial duty, placing the father’s welfare and dynastic continuity above personal preference.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds filial dharma and intentional self-sacrifice: Bhīṣma prioritizes what benefits and pleases his father, thereby supporting family stability and the continuation of the royal line.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Bhīṣma, acting for his father’s sake, arranged the marriage with Satyavatī—also known as Gandhakālī—thereby enabling Śāntanu’s union with her.