TEXTS 56
tasya satyavatim kanyam
rciko yacata dvijah
varam visadrsam matva
gadhir bhargavam abravit
ekatah syama-karnanam
hayanam candra-varcasam
sahasram diyatam sulkam
kanyayah kusika vayam
SYNONYMS
tasyaof Gadhi; satyavatimSatyavati; kanyamthe daughter; rcikahthe great sage Rcika; ayacatarequested; dvijahthe brahmana; varamas her husband; visadrsamnot equal or fit; matvathinking like that; gadhihKing Gadhi; bhargavamunto Rcika; abravitreplied; ekatahby one; syama-karnanamwhose ear is black; hayanamhorses; candra-varcasamas brilliant as the moonshine; sahasramone thousand; diyatamplease deliver; sulkamas a dowry; kanyayahto my daughter; kusikahin the family of Kusa; vayamwe (are).
TRANSLATION
King Gadhi had a daughter named Satyavati, whom a brahmana sage named Rcika requested from the King to be his wife. King Gadhi, however, regarded Rcika as an unfit husband for his daughter, and therefore he told the brahmana, My dear sir, I belong to the dynasty of Kusa. Because we are aristocratic ksatriyas, you have to give some dowry for my daughter. Therefore, bring at least one thousand horses, each as brilliant as moonshine and each having one black ear, whether right or left.
PURPORT
The son of King Gadhi was Visvamitra, who was said to be a brahmana and ksatriya combined. Visvamitra attained the status of a brahmarsi, as explained later. From the marriage of Satyavati with Rcika Muni would come a son with the spirit of a ksatriya. King Gadhi demanded that an uncommon request be fulfilled before the brahmana Rcika could marry his daughter.

Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/9/15/5-6

Previous: SB 9.15.4     Next: SB 9.15.7

If you Love Me Distribute My Books -- Srila Prabhupada