Vaishampayana said: He (Bhishma) heard from the Brahmanas that the daughter of Subala, Gandhari, had received a boon by worshipping the destroyer of eyes of Bhaga, the boon-giving deity Hara (Shibi). The amiable, Gandhari would get one hundred sons. Having heard this, the grandsire of the Kurus, Bhishma, sent messengers to the king of Gandhara. O descendant of the Bharata race, (king) Subala hesitated on account of the blindness (of the bridegroom).
वैशम्पायन उवाच अथ शुश्राव विप्रेभ्यो गान्धारी सुबलात्मजाम्। आराध्य वरदं देवं भगनेत्रहरं हरम्॥ गान्धारी किल पुत्राणां शतं लेभे वरं शुभा। इति शुश्राव तत्त्वेन भीष्मः कुरुपितामहः॥ ततो गान्धारराजस्य प्रेषयामास भारत। अचक्षुरिति तत्रासीत् सुबलस्य विचारणा॥ तस्मात् स्वयं