Subala

Subala was the king of Gāndhāra. He was the father of Gāndhārī and Śakuni. He gave his daughter Gāndhārī in marriage to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the blind king of Hastināpura.

This marriage had enormous consequences in the Mahābhārata. Śakuni came to the Kuru court because of it. He became Duryodhana’s closest strategist and the architect of the dice game that destroyed the fortune of the Pāṇḍavas.

The marriage of Gāndhārī

Subala, as king of Gāndhāra, gave his daughter Gāndhārī in marriage to Dhṛtarāṣṭra of the Kuru line.

Gāndhārī chose to bind her eyes in solidarity with her blind husband. This was her own decision, made after the betrothal had been arranged.

Subala’s son Śakuni went with his sister to Hastināpura and stayed there. In time he became Duryodhana’s most dangerous advisor.

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Sambhava Parva