chaste Gandhari learning that Dhrita-rashtra was blind and that her parents had consented to wed her with him, from love and respect for her future husband bandaged her own eyes with cloth gathered into many folds. Then Sakuni, the son of Suvala, bringing unto the Kurus his sister endued with youth and beauty, formally gave her away unto Dhrita-rashtra. And Gandhari was received with great respect and the nuptials were celebrated with great pomp under Bhisma's directions. And the heroic Sakuni after having bestowed his sister along with many valuable robes, and having received Bhisma's adorations, returned to his own city. And, O thou of the Bharata race, the beautiful Gandhari gratified all the Kurus by her behaviour and respectful attentions. And Gandhari, ever devoted to her husband, gratified her superiors by her good conduct; and chaste as she was, she never referred, even by words, to men other than her husband or such superiors."
Thus ends the hundred and tenth Section in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.
( Sambhava Parva continued. )
Vaisampayana continued, "There was amongst the Yadavas a chief of name Shura. He was the father of Vasudeva. And he had a daughter called Prithă, who in beauty was unrivalled on earth. And, O thou of the Bharata race, Shura, always truthful in speech, gave from friendship this his firstborn daughter unto his childless cousin and friend the illustrious Kunti-bhoja—the son of his paternal aunt—pursuant to former promise. And Pritha in the house of her adoptive father was engaged in looking after the duties of hospitality to Brahmanas and other guests. One day she gratified by her attentions the terrible Brahmana of rigid vows, known by the name of Durvasa and who was well-acquainted with the hidden truths of morality. And gratified with her respectful attentions, the Rishi, anticipating by his spiritual power the future season of distress (consequent upon the curse to be pronounced upon Pandu for his unrighteous act of slaying a deer
42
