Shloka 10
Viśvāmitra-janma: Ṛcīka–Satyavatī–Gādhi and the Charu Exchange (विश्वामित्र-जन्म: ऋचीक–सत्यवती–गाधि वृत्तान्तः)
प्रत्याख्याय पुनर्यातमब्रवीद् राजसत्तम: । शुल्कं॑ प्रदीयतां महां ततो वत्स्यसि मे सुताम्
pratyākhyāya punaryātam abravīd rājasattamaḥ | śulkaṃ pradīyatāṃ mahān tato vatsyasi me sutām ||
भीष्म म्हणाले—नकार मिळाल्यावर महर्षी परत जाऊ लागले, तेव्हा राजसत्तम गाधि म्हणाला—“महर्षे! मोठा शुल्क द्या; मग विवाहाने माझी कन्या तुम्हाला मिळेल.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds an ethical issue: when marriage is made conditional on a substantial śulka (bride-price), it can function as a social test of capability and commitment, yet it also risks reducing a sacred alliance to a transaction. It invites reflection on dharma in family decisions—how authority, custom, and moral propriety should be balanced.
After the sage’s proposal/request is rejected and he starts to leave, King Gādhi calls out and sets a condition: the sage must pay a large śulka. Only then will the king allow the sage to marry his daughter.