Shloka 77
आदि पर्व, अध्याय 96 — काश्यकन्याहरणं, शाल्वसमागमः, अम्बावचनं च
Kāśī princesses taken; encounter with Śālva; Ambā’s declaration
भीमसेनो<डपि काश्यां बलन्धरां नामोपयेमे वीर्य-शुल्काम् । तसयां पुत्र सर्वगं नामोत्पादयामास,युधिष्ठिरने शिबिदेशके राजा गोवासनकी पुत्री देविकाको स्वयंवरमें प्राप्त किया और उसके गर्भसे एक पुत्रको जन्म दिया; जिसका नाम यौधेय था। भीमसेनने भी काशिराजकी कन्या बलन्धराके साथ विवाह किया; उसे प्राप्त करनेके लिये बल एवं पराक्रमका शुल्क रखा गया था अर्थात् यह शर्त थी कि जो अधिक बलवान् हो, वही उसके साथ विवाह कर सकता है। भीमसेनने उसके गर्भसे एक पुत्र उत्पन्न किया, जिसका नाम सर्वग था
vaiśampāyana uvāca | bhīmaseno 'pi kāśyāṃ balandharāṃ nāmopayeme vīrya-śulkām | tasyāṃ putraṃ sarvagaṃ nāmotpādayāmāsa |
Vaiśampāyana said: Bhīmasena too, in Kāśī, won in marriage a maiden named Balandharā, whose hand was set at the price of valor—only the mightiest could claim her. Through her he begot a son named Sarvaga. The episode underscores the Kṣatriya ethos in which marriage alliances are tied to proven strength and public contest, while also marking the continuation of lineage through duly sanctioned union.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a Kṣatriya social ideal: eligibility for certain alliances is demonstrated through publicly proven strength and valor, and marriage is framed as a dharmic means of sustaining lineage through legitimate union.
Vaiśampāyana reports that Bhīma went to Kāśī, won and married Balandharā under a valor-based condition (vīrya-śulka), and fathered a son by her named Sarvaga.