Shloka 15
Bhīṣma’s Counsel on Reconciliation and Partition (भीष्मोपदेशः—संधि-राज्यविभागविचारः)
तथैव मुनिजा वार्क्षी तपोभिभर्भावितात्मन: । संगताभूद् दश भ्रातृनेकनाम्न: प्रचेतस:
tathaiva munijā vārkṣī tapobhir bhāvitātmanaḥ | saṅgatābhūd daśa bhrātṝn ekanāmnaḥ pracetasaḥ ||
तथैव कण्डुमुनेः सुता वार्क्षी तपोभिर्भावितात्मा दश प्रचेतसो भ्रातॄन् एकनामधेयान् सहोदरान् पतित्वेन संगता बभूव।
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights tapas as a means of inner refinement (bhāvitātman) and presents marriage as a dharmic social bond that links lineages; ethical emphasis falls on purity of conduct and the orderly continuation of family lines.
Yudhiṣṭhira recounts that Vārkṣī, the sage Kaṇḍu’s daughter, formed a marital union with the ten Pracetas brothers, who are collectively known by one shared name and are described as mutually united as brothers.