The kingdom of Gandhara was situated in the eastern and north-western directions of river Sindhu. It had two chief cities—Purushpur and Takshashila. King Subala who ruled over there was a justice-loving ruler. He was married to queen Sudharma. They were blessed with five sons and one daughter—Gaya, Gavaksh, Vrishava, Chamvrata, Shakuni and Gandhari. Shakuni was the youngest of all sons. Gandhari was a matchless beauty. Bhishma reached King Subala to ask for Gandhari’s hand in marriage to Dhritrashtra. King Subala did not wish to marry his daughter to a blind man. But to save Gandhara from the onslaught of Bhishma Gandhari persuaded her father to accept the marriage proposal. After the marriage, Gandhari covered her eyes with a blindfold. Being pleased, sage Vyasa blessed Gandhari with a hundred sons.
Shakuni, the youngest brother of Gandhari, was burning with the fire of revenge against Bhishma for the disgrace inflicted upon them. He was bent upon destroying the Kuru dynasty, so he accompanied his sister to Hastinapur. He never gave Duryodhana sound advice.
Gandhari, daughter of King Subala
