Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 5
Paraśurāma, Kārtavīryārjuna, and the Kāmadhenu Offense
with Lunar-line Genealogy to Gādhi and Jamadagni
तस्य सत्यवतीं कन्यामृचीकोऽयाचत द्विज: । वरं विसदृशं मत्वा गाधिर्भार्गवमब्रवीत् ॥ ५ ॥ एकत: श्यामकर्णानां हयानां चन्द्रवर्चसाम् । सहस्रं दीयतां शुल्कं कन्याया: कुशिका वयम् ॥ ६ ॥
tasya satyavatīṁ kanyām ṛcīko ’yācata dvijaḥ varaṁ visadṛśaṁ matvā gādhir bhārgavam abravīt
ಗಾಧಿ ರಾಜನ ಮಗಳು ಸತ್ಯವತಿಯನ್ನು ಋಚೀಕನೆಂಬ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣ ಋಷಿ ಪತ್ನಿಯಾಗಿ ಬೇಡಿಕೊಂಡನು. ಗಾಧಿ ಅವನನ್ನು ಅಸಮಂಜಸ ವರನೆಂದು ಭಾವಿಸಿ ಹೇಳಿದನು—“ನಾವು ಕುಶಿಕ ವಂಶದ ಕ್ಷತ್ರಿಯರು; ಕನ್ಯಾಶುಲ್ಕವಾಗಿ ಚಂದ್ರಪ್ರಭೆಯಂತೆ ಹೊಳೆಯುವ ಸಾವಿರ ಕುದುರೆಗಳನ್ನು ಕೊಡು, ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದಕ್ಕೂ ಒಂದು ಕಪ್ಪು ಕಿವಿ ಇರಲಿ.”
The son of King Gādhi was Viśvāmitra, who was said to be a brāhmaṇa and kṣatriya combined. Viśvāmitra attained the status of a brahmarṣi, as explained later. From the marriage of Satyavatī with Ṛcīka Muni would come a son with the spirit of a kṣatriya. King Gādhi demanded that an uncommon request be fulfilled before the brāhmaṇa Ṛcīka could marry his daughter.
FAQs
This verse shows King Gādhi weighing the match as “unequal,” reflecting how marriage alliances were often evaluated through dharma, lineage, and social order—yet the narrative also sets up how divine destiny can unfold beyond ordinary calculations.
Because Ṛcīka was a brāhmaṇa sage and Satyavatī was a kṣatriya princess, Gādhi considered the groom ‘visadṛśa’ (unequal) and therefore responded with reservations.
It teaches that worldly assessments (status, suitability) may seem decisive, but one should also remain mindful of higher purpose and dharma, as providence can work through unexpected arrangements.