Shloka 57
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 103 — Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Gāndhārī Vivāha: Proposal, Consent, and the Vow
यथा दुहितरश्वैव परिगृह ययौ कुरून् । आनिन््ये स महाबाहुर्भ्रातु: प्रियचिकीर्षया,धर्मात्मा गंगानन्दन भीष्म काशिराजकी कन्याओंको पुत्रवधू, छोटी बहिन एवं पुत्रीकी भाँति साथ रखकर कुरुदेशमें ले आये। वे महाबाहु अपने भाई विचित्रवीर्यका प्रिय करनेकी इच्छासे उन सबको लाये थे
yathā duhitaraś caiva parigṛhya yayau kurūn | āninye sa mahābāhur bhrātuḥ priyacikīrṣayā || dharmātmā gaṅgānandano bhīṣmaḥ kāśirājasya kanyāḥ putravadhuṃ kanyāṃ caiva yathā svasāṃ sutāṃ tathā | saha nītvā kurudeśaṃ prāpya vicitravīryasya priyam icchan ||
Disse Vaiśaṃpāyana: Tendo tomado as princesas consigo como se fossem filhas, ele partiu para a terra dos Kurus. Bhīṣma, de braços poderosos—justo e júbilo do rio Gaṅgā—levou a Kurudeśa as filhas do rei de Kāśī, guardando-as com o cuidado devido a uma nora, a uma irmã mais nova e a uma filha. Fê-lo para realizar o que era caro a seu irmão Vicitravīrya: assegurar uma aliança matrimonial régia conforme ao dharma e a continuidade da linhagem Kuru.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma as responsible guardianship and dynastic duty: Bhīṣma acts not for personal gain but to secure a lawful alliance for his brother and to protect the princesses under his care, framing power as service to family and kingdom.
After taking the daughters of the king of Kāśī, Bhīṣma travels to the Kuru realm and brings them to Hastināpura/Kurudeśa, intending to arrange their marriage for his brother Vicitravīrya and thereby strengthen the Kuru succession.