Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c5.810

c5.810

4) *Marriage and birth of children.* Dhṛtarāṣṭra came of marriageable age. Bhīṣma had heard about Gāndhārī, daughter of Subala, the King of Gāndhāra, as a beautiful damsel of good qualities. Moreover she had acquired a boon from Śiva that hundred sons would be born to her. Bhīṣma sent a messenger to Subala with a request to give Gāndhārī as wife to Dhṛtarāṣṭra. Subala was not much pleased at the aspect of getting a blind man as son-in-law. Still he thought of the prestige his family would get by a marriage alliance with the kings of the Pūru Dynasty, and finally agreed. Gāndhārī submitted to the will of her father, and to live with a husband who was blind. She tied her eyes with a cloth. Śakuni the son of Subala brought Gāndhārī to Hastināpura, and gave her to Dhṛtarāṣṭra. With the sanction of Bhīṣma their marriage took place.