आदि पर्व, अध्याय 67 — गान्धर्वविवाह-समयः
Duḥṣanta–Śakuntalā: Gandharva Marriage and Succession Condition
जयद्रथाय प्रददौ सौबलानुमते तदा । धर्मस्यांशं तु राजानं विद्धि राजन् युधिष्ठिरम्,भूपाल! उन सबका सुयोग्य स्त्रियोंक साथ विवाह हुआ था। महाराज! कुरुराज दुर्योधनने समय आनेपर शकुनिकी सलाहसे अपनी बहिन दुःशलाका विवाह सिन्धुदेशके राजा जयद्रथके साथ कर दिया। जनमेजय! राजा युधिष्ठिरको तो तुम धर्मका अंश जानो
jayadrathāya pradadau saubalānumate tadā | dharmasyāṁśaṁ tu rājānaṁ viddhi rājan yudhiṣṭhiram ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Pada ketika itu, dengan persetujuan Saubala (Śakuni), dia mengahwinkan (saudarinya) dengan Jayadratha. Dan hendaklah tuanku mengetahui bahawa Raja Yudhiṣṭhira itu sendiri merupakan sebahagian daripada Dharma.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse juxtaposes political action with moral identity: alliances may be forged through strategic counsel (a marriage bestowed with Śakuni’s approval), yet true legitimacy in kingship is grounded in Dharma—personified in Yudhiṣṭhira as a partial manifestation of righteousness.
Vaiśampāyana tells Janamejaya that, following Śakuni’s counsel, a marriage alliance was arranged with Jayadratha; immediately thereafter he affirms Yudhiṣṭhira’s nature as ‘a portion of Dharma,’ highlighting his ethical preeminence amid dynastic events.