After setting his eyes upon the families and dynasties which he wanted to bring together into the House of the Kurus, re-uniting the lines with the fellow lines of Yadu, Anu and Druhyu, the ever intelligent and ambitious Bhishma, endued with great foresight, meditated on how this unprecedented move could take form.

Bhishma, sat in his royal chambers, heard from the Brahmanas that Gandhari, the amiable daughter of King Suvala of Gandhara, having worshipped Hara, Siva, had obtained from the deity the boon that she would have a century of sons.

Bhishma thus sent messengers unto Gandhara, with a proposal involving Prince Dhritrashtra. King Suvala, on hearing of its details, at first hesitated on account of the blindness of the bridegroom, but taking into consideration the blood of the line, their fame and behaviour, he decided to give his virtuous daughter Gandhari, unto Dhritarashtra. The chaste Gandhari hearing that Prince Dhritarashtra was blind, from devotion and respect for her future husband, she blindfolded her own eyes.

Sakuni, the brother of Gandhari, bringing unto the Kurus his sister endued with youth and beauty, formally gave her away unto Dhritarashtra. And Gandhari was received with great respect, and the nuptials were celebrated with great pomp under Bhishma's direction.

Sakuni, after having bestowed his sister along with many valuable robes, and having received Bhishma's adorations, returned to his own city of Gandhara.

The beautiful Gandhari gratified all the Kurus by her behaviour and respectful attentions. And Gandhari, ever devoted to her husband, gratified her superiors by her good conduct; and as she was chaste, she never referred even by words to men other than her husband or such superior.

Vaisampayana, after explaining to the King the story behind the marriage of Dhritrashtra, explained then how it came to be that Pandu was married.

Born to King Sura of the line of Yadu and the powerful Vrishnis was a beautiful girl called Pritha. Pritha would go on to be adopted by Kuntibhoja, a dear friend of King Sura who had no children of his own. Pritha after being adopted would take on the name Kunti, after her beloved adoptive father. The maiden Kunti went on to become endued with beauty and every accomplishment.

Kunti was of elevated mind, and of rigid vows, devoted to virtue and possessed of every good quality. But though endued with beauty and youth and every womanly attribute, yet it so happened that no king had asked for her hand in marriage.

Her father Kuntibhoja on seeing this, invited princes and kings of neighbouring countries, desiring his beloved daughter Kunti, to herself select her husband from among those who had attended.

During the Svayamvara event held in the palace of Kuntibhoja, the intelligent Kunti, entering the amphitheatre, to once beheld with her eyes Pandu, who it was decided would attend along with Bhishma. Pandu looked really like a tiger amongst kings in the concourse of crowned heads. Pandu, the son of the great Vyasa and Princess Ambalika, coming from the grandest kingdom of all those in attendance, from the capital city of Hastinapura, stood as proud as a lion, broad-chested, bull-eyed, endued with exceptional strength, and outshining all other monarchs in splendour, he looked like another Indra in that royal assemblage.

The amiable daughter of Kuntibhoja, of faultless features, beholding Pandu thus, became agitated in desire for him. And being prompted by her Father to make her choice known; Kunti advanced forward trying to hold a posture of modesty, all the while quivering with emotion, she placed the nuptial garland about Pandu's neck which was as thick as that of a lion. The other monarchs, seeing Kunti choose Pandu for her lord, returned to their respective kingdoms on elephants, horses and cars.

Then, O king, the bride's father caused the nuptial rites to be performed duly, and the Kuru prince blessed with great good fortune and the daughter of Kuntibhoja formed a couple like Indra the King of gods, also known as Maghavada, and Sachi who is known as Paulomi.

King Kuntibhoja, finally closed the proceedings he had hosted by presenting his son-in-law Pandu, with much wealth, and sent him back to Hastinapura along with his daughter Kunti.

Kunti, of the dynasty of Yadu, the eldest son of Yayati, after the marriage of Dhritrashtra & Gandhari, was established by King Pandu as the Queen of Hastinapura and the new form of the Kuru line, that originally came from the youngest son of Yayati, Puru.

Some time after, Bhishma the intelligent son of Santanu set his heart upon getting Pandu married to a second wife given this could bring more progeny and improve the Kingdoms prospects even further.

The Kingdom on Bhishma’s mind, was that of Madra. In the days of Satya Yuga, where King Yayati presided over all the lands, his fourth son was called Anu. Pandu’s first wife Kunti, was from the line of Yadu, Yayati‘s eldest son. The line of the Kurus, had come from Yayati‘s fifth and youngest son, Puru.

So Bhishma in uniting with the Kingdom of Madra, whose origins were Anu, would re-inforce after so many generations, through marital bonds, the lines of King Yayati, who would be natural allies. Such was the foresight of the great royal strategist Bhishma. Seven generations after Anu, had come the renowed King Usinara. Also, incidentally, the line of Anu had included shortly after Usinara, the King who Bhishma had recently cited in his use of previous cases of emergency in King Vali, who had appointed the found Sage Dirghatamas who had been rejected by his wife and family, but would give great and qualified progeny to the wife of King Vali.

Knowing all of this history and it‘s connection to Madra, Bhishma would set his sights on approaching Madraraja Salya, the present day ruler of the Kingdom of Madra on behalf of his nephew Pandu, for the King’s sister Madris hand in marriage.

Accompanied by an army composed of four kinds of forces, and also by aged councillors, and sages, Bhishma went to the capital of the King of Madra, Salya. And that bull of the Valhikas, Salya, hearing that Bhishma had arrived, went out to receive him personally. And having received him with much respect, Bhishma entered his grand palace.

Arriving there, the king of Madra offered unto Bhishma a royal white carpet for a seat, and water to wash his feet with. Once Bhishma was seated at ease, Salya asked him about the reason of his visit, to which Bhishma replied:

'O oppressor of foes, Madraraja Salya, fellow ancestor of the son of Yayati, Anu, know that I have come for the hand of your maiden sister Madri.

It hath been heard by us that thou hast a sister named Madri celebrated for her beauty and endued with every virtue; I would chose her for my dear and great nephew, Pandu who shall be anointed as King of Hastinapura. The further reinforcement of our already strong ties through this marriage, should be fitting O King. Reflecting upon all this, O Madraraja, do accept us duly.'

King Salya thus addressed by Bhishma, replied:

'To my mind, there is none else than one of thy family, the Kurus, with whom I can enter into an alliance.

But O Bhishma, there is a familial custom in respect of the bestowal of our women, observed by our ancestors which, be it good or bad, I am incapable of transgressing.

It is well-known, and therefore is known to thee as well, I doubt not.

Therefore, it is not proper for thee to say to me, “Bestow thy sister.”

The custom to which I allude is our family custom. It is for this only, O slayer of foes, I cannot give thee any assurance in the matter of thy request.'

On hearing this, Bhishma answered Salya, saying:

'O king, this, no doubt, is a virtue. The self-create himself hath said it. And thy ancestors were observant of custom.

There is no fault to find with it.

It is also well-known, O Salya, that this custom in respect of family dignity, hath the approval of the wise and the good.'

Saying this and understanding the tradition of Salya’s line that nobody should ever explicitly ask for women of his line, Bhishma of great energy, gave unto Salya much gold both coined and uncoined, and precious stones of various colours by thousands, and elephants and horses and cars, and much cloth and many ornaments, and gems and pearls and corals. This was understood to be a gesture by which the Kurus wanted to enter marital ties and an alliance.

King Salya, accepting with a cheerful heart those precious gifts. then gave away his sister decked in ornaments unto that bull who rode under the banner of the Kuru Kingdom.

Bhishma in his mind, then rejoiced at the issue of his mission, and took the beautiful Princess Madri with him and returned safely to the Kuru capital named after the elephant.

Selecting an auspicious day and moment as indicated by the wise for the ceremony, King Pandu was then duly married to Princess Madri in the presence of the fire.

After the nuptials were over, the Kuru king established his beautiful bride in his opulent apartments. And that best of monarchs, the great Pandu, then gave himself up to enjoyment in the company of his two wives as best as he liked, and to the limit of his desires.