Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/258

244 showers of weapons and in which the combatants grinded each other fiercely, the Gandharva, who had greater prowess or strategic deception, slew the Kuru prince. Having slain Chitrangada-that first of men and oppressor of foes-the Gandharva ascended to heaven. When that tiger among men endued with great prowess was slain, Bhishma, the son of Santanu performed, O king, all his obsequies. He then installed the boy Vichitravirya of mighty arms, still in his minority, on the throne of the Kurus. And Vichitr virya, placing himselt under the command of Bhishma, ruled the ancestral kingdom, And he adored Santanu's son Bhishma who was conversant with all the rules of religion and law : so, indeed, Bhishma also protected him that was so obedient to the dictates of duty."

Thus ends the hundred and first section in the Shambhava Parva of the Adi Parva.

Vaisampayana said, -"O thou of Kuru's race, after Chitrangada was slain, bis successor Vichitravirga being a minor, Bhishma ruled the kingdom, placing himself under the command of Satyavati. When he saw that his brother, who was the foremost of intelligent men, attained to majority, Bhisma set his heart upon marrying Vichitravirya. At this time he heard that the three daughters of the king of Kasi, all equal in beauty to the Apsaras themselves, would be married on the same occasion, selecting their husbands at a self-choise ceremony. Then that foremost of car-warriors, that vanquisher of all foes, at the command of bis mother, went to the city of Varanasi in a single chariot. There Bhishma, the son of Santanu, saw that innumerable monarchs had come from all directions, and there he also saw those three maiden that would select their own busbands. And when the (assembled) kings were each being mentioned by name, Bhishma chose those maidens (on behalf of his brother). And taking them upon his chariot, Bhishma, that first of smiters in battle, addressed the kings, O monarch, and said in a voice deep as the roat of the clouds.—'The wise have directed that when an accomplished person has been invited, a maiden may be bestowed on him, decked with ornaments and along with many valuable presents. Others again may bestow their daughters by accepting a couple of kine. Some again bestow their daughters by taking a fixed sum, and some take away maidens by force. Some wed with the consent of the maidens, some by drugging them into consent, and some by going unto the maidens