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.'
एवमुक्ता ततः कन्या देवं वरदमब्रवीत्। एकमिच्छाम्यहं देव त्वत्प्रसादात्पतिं प्रभो
Thus addressed, the maiden spoke to the boon-giving god: 'O lord, by your grace, I wish for only one husband.'
पुनरेवाब्रवीद्देव इदं वचनमुत्तमम्। पञ्चकृत्वस्त्वया ह्युक्तः पतिं देहीत्यहं पुनः
The god again spoke these excellent words: 'You have asked for a husband five times; therefore, I say again—'
द्रुपदस्य कुले जज्ञे सा कन्या देवरूपिणी
That maiden, divine in form, was born in the lineage of Drupada.
निर्दिष्टा भवतां पत्नी कृष्णा पार्षत्यनिन्दिता। पाञ्चालनगरे तस्मान्निवसध्वं महाबलाः। सुखिनस्तामनुप्राप्य भविष्यथ न संशयः
Krishna, the faultless daughter of Prishata, has been designated as your wife. Therefore, O mighty ones, dwell in the city of Panchala; having obtained her, you will be happy, without doubt.
एवमुक्त्वा महाभागः पाण्डवान्स पितामहः। पार्थानामन्त्र्य कुन्तीं च प्रातिष्ठत महातपाः
Having spoken thus, the blessed grandsire, possessed of great austerity, took leave of the Pāṇḍavas and Kuntī and departed.
गते भगवति व्यासे पाण्डवा हृष्टमानसाः। `ते प्रयाता नरव्याघ्रा मात्रा सह परन्तपाः
When the venerable Vyāsa had gone, the Pāṇḍavas, their minds gladdened, set out with their mother, those tigers among men, scorcher of foes.
ब्राह्मणान्गच्छतो पश्यन्पाञ्चालान्सगणान्पथि। अथ ते ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः पाण्डवान्ब्रह्मचारिणः
As they traveled, those celibate Pāṇḍavas saw groups of Brāhmaṇas and Pañcālas along the road; then those Brāhmaṇas spoke to the Pāṇḍavas.
क्व भवन्तो गमिष्यन्ति कुतो वाऽऽगच्छथेति ह
"Where are you all going, and from where have you come?"
भवन्तो नोऽभिजानन्तु सहितान्ब्रह्मचारिणः। गच्छतो नस्तु पाञ्चालान्द्रुपदस्य पुरं प्रति
"May you know us, traveling together as celibates, on our way to the city of Drupada among the Pañcālas."
इच्छामो भवतो ज्ञातुं परं कौतूहलं हि नः
"We wish to know from you, for we are greatly curious."