देवगन्धर्वयक्षाश्च ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः। स्वयंवरं द्रष्टुकामा गच्छन्त्येव न संशयः
Gods, Gandharvas, Yakshas, and ascetic sages rich in austerity, all desiring to witness the self-choice, are indeed coming—there is no doubt.
तव पुत्रा महात्मानो दर्शनीयो विशेषतः। यदृच्छया सा पाञ्चाली गच्छेद्वान्यतमं पतिम्
Your sons are great-souled and especially worthy of being seen; by chance, that Panchali may choose any one of them as her husband.
को हि जानाति लोकेषु प्रजापतिमतं शुभण्। तस्मात्सपुत्रा गच्छेथा यदि ब्राह्मणि रोचते
For who in the worlds knows the will of the Lord of creatures, O auspicious one? Therefore, you should go with your sons, if it pleases you, O Brahmin.
नित्यकालं सुभिक्षास्ते पाञ्चालास्तु तपोधने। यज्ञसेनस्तु राजा स ब्रह्मण्यः सत्यसङ्गरः
The Panchalas always have abundant alms for ascetics; and King Yajnasena is devoted to Brahmins and steadfast in truth.
ब्रह्मण्या नागराः सर्वे ब्राह्मणाश्चातिथिप्रियाः। नित्यकालं प्रदास्यन्ति आमन्त्रणमयाचितम्
All the citizens are devoted to Brahmins, and the Brahmins are fond of guests; at all times they will provide whatever is requested as alms or invitation.
अहं च तत्र गच्छामि ममैभिः सह शिष्यकैः। एकसार्थाः प्रयाताः स्मो ब्राह्मण्या यदि रोचते
I too will go there, together with these my disciples; we shall travel as one company, if it pleases you, O Brahmin.
एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं ब्राह्मणो विरराम ह
Having spoken thus, the Brahmin fell silent.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा ततः सर्वे पाण्डवा भरतर्षभ। मनसा द्रौपदीं जग्मुरनङ्गशरपीडिताः
Hearing this, then, all the Pandavas, O bull of the Bharatas, were pierced by the arrows of love and in their hearts went to Draupadi.
ततस्तां रजनीं राजञ्छल्यविद्धा इवाभवन्। सर्वे चास्वस्थमनसो बभूवुस्ते महाबलाः
Then, O king, that night they were as if struck by darts; all those mighty ones became restless in mind.
ततः कुन्ती सुतान्दृष्ट्वा सर्वांस्तद्गतचेतसः। युधिष्ठिरमुवाचेदं वचनं सत्यवादिनी
Then Kunti, seeing all her sons with their minds fixed on her, spoke these words to Yudhishthira, she who always spoke the truth.
चिररात्रोषिताः स्मेह ब्राह्मणस्य निवेशने। रममाणाः पुरे रम्ये लब्धभैक्षा महात्मनः
We have stayed here a long time in the Brahmin's house, enjoying ourselves in this delightful city, and obtaining alms, O great-souled one.
यानीह रमणीयानि वनान्युपवनानि च। सर्वाणि तानि दृष्टानि पुनःपुनररिन्दम
All the pleasant forests and groves here, O subduer of foes, have been seen again and again.
पुनर्दृष्टानि तानीह प्रीणयन्ति न नस्तथा। भैक्षं च न तथा वीर लभ्यते कुरुनन्दन
Having seen them again, they no longer delight us as before; nor, O son of Kuru, is alms easily obtained as before.
ते वयं साधु पञ्चालान्गच्छाम यदि मन्यसे। अपूर्वदर्शनं वीर रमणीयं भविष्यति
Therefore, let us go to the Panchalas, if you think fit, O hero; it will be a new and delightful sight.
सुभिक्षाश्चैव पञ्चालाः श्रूयन्ते शत्रुकर्शन। यज्ञसेनश्च राजाऽसौ ब्रह्मण्य इति सुश्रुम
The Panchalas are said to be abundant in alms, O subduer of enemies; and we have heard that King Yajnasena is devoted to Brahmins.
एकत्र चिरवासश्च क्षमो न च मतो मम। ते तत्र साधु गच्छामो यदि त्वं पुत्र मन्यसे
A long stay in one place is not proper, nor does it please me; so let us go there, if you agree, my son.
भवत्या यन्मतं कार्यं तदस्माकं परं हितम्। अनुजांस्तु न जानामि गच्छेयुर्नेति वा पुनः
Whatever action you deem proper is of the highest benefit to us. As for the younger brothers, I do not know whether they should go or not.
ततः कुन्ती भीमसेनमर्जुनं यमजौ तथा। उवाच गमनं ते च तथेत्येवाब्रुवंस्तदा
Then Kunti spoke to Bhimasena, Arjuna, and the twins, and they agreed to depart, saying, 'So be it.'
तत आमन्त्र्य तं विप्रं कुन्ती राजसुतैः सह। प्रतस्थे नगरीं रम्यां द्रुपदस्य महात्मनः
Then, bidding farewell to the Brahmin, Kunti set out with the royal sons for the beautiful city of the great-souled Drupada.
वसत्सु तेषु प्रच्छन्नं पाण्डवेषु महात्मसु। आजगामाथ तान्द्रष्टुं व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः
While the great-souled Pandavas were dwelling in concealment, Vyasa, son of Satyavati, came to see them.
तमागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य प्रत्युद्गम्य परन्तपाः। प्रणिपत्याभिवाद्यैनं तस्थुः प्राञ्जलयस्तदा
Seeing him arrive, the scorcher of foes went out to meet him; bowing and honoring him, they stood with joined palms.
समनुज्ञाप्य तान्सर्वानासीनान्मुनिरब्रवीत्। प्रच्छन्नं पूजितः पार्थैः प्रीतिपूर्वमिदं वचः
Having permitted them all to sit, the sage, honored by the Pandavas in secret and with affection, spoke these words.
अपि धर्मेण वर्तध्वं शास्त्रेण च परन्तपाः। अपि विप्रेषु पूजा वः पूजार्हेषु न हीयते
Are you living according to dharma and the scriptures, O scorcher of foes? Is your worship of Brahmins and those worthy of honor not lacking?
अथ धर्मार्थवद्वाक्यमुक्त्वा स भगवानृषिः। विचित्राश्च कथास्तास्ताः पुनरेवेदमब्रवीत्
Then, having spoken words full of dharma and purpose, the venerable sage narrated various stories and again spoke this.
आसीत्तपोवने काचिदृषेः कन्या महात्मनः। विलग्नमध्या सुश्रोणी सुभ्रूः सर्वगुणान्विता
There was once a maiden in a hermitage, daughter of a great sage, with a slender waist, beautiful hips, lovely brows, and endowed with every virtue.
कर्मभिः स्वकृतैः सा तु दुर्भगा समपद्यत। नाध्यगच्छत्पतिं सा तु कन्या रूपवती सती
But by her own actions, she became unfortunate; though beautiful and virtuous, she did not obtain a husband.
तपस्तप्तुमथारेभे पत्यर्थमसुखा ततः। तोषयामास तपसा सा किलोग्रेण शङ्करम्
Then, desiring a husband, she undertook severe austerities; by her intense penance, she sought to please Shankara.
तस्याः स भगवांस्तुष्टस्तामुवाच यशस्विनीम्। वरं वरय भद्रं ते वरदोऽस्मीति शङ्करः
The blessed Shankara, pleased with her, spoke to the illustrious maiden: 'Choose a boon, auspicious one; I am the grantor of boons.'
अथेश्वरमुवाचेदमात्मनः सा वचो हितम्। पतिं सर्वगुणोपेतमिच्छामीति पुनःपुनः
Then she addressed the lord with words beneficial to herself: 'I desire a husband endowed with all virtues,' she said again and again.
तामथ प्रत्युवाचेदमीशानो वदतां वरः। पञ्च ते पतयो भद्रे भविष्यन्तीति भारताः
Then the lord, best among speakers, replied to her: 'O blessed one, you shall have five husbands, O Bharatas.'