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 Vichitravirya, placing himself 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.'"
SECTION CII
(Sambhava Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'O thou of Kuru's race, after Chitrangada was slain,
his successor Vichitravirya 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,
Bhishma 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-choice ceremony. Then that foremost of car-warriors,
that vanquisher of all foes, at the command of his 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 maidens that would select their own husbands.
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