Shloka 9
Viśvāmitra-janma: Ṛcīka–Satyavatī–Gādhi and the Charu Exchange (विश्वामित्र-जन्म: ऋचीक–सत्यवती–गाधि वृत्तान्तः)
सतां न प्रददौ तस्मै ऋचीकाय महात्मने । दरिद्र इति मत्वा वै गाधि: शत्रुनिबर्हण:,शत्रुसूदन_ गाधिने महात्मा ऋचीकको दरिद्र समझकर उन्हें अपनी कन्या नहीं दी
satāṁ na pradadau tasmai ṛcīkāya mahātmane | daridra iti matvā vai gādhiḥ śatrunibarhaṇaḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: Raja Gādhi—penghancur musuh—menyangka resi agung Ṛcīka itu miskin; maka baginda tidak menyerahkan puterinya kepada insan mulia tersebut.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse cautions against judging a person’s worth by external wealth; dharmic discernment should prioritize inner virtue, tapas, and character over material status.
Bhīṣma narrates that King Gādhi refused to give his daughter to the sage Ṛcīka because he assumed Ṛcīka was poor, setting up the ensuing events around the marriage negotiation and its consequences.