वैशम्पायन उवाच वसत्सु तेषु प्रच्छन्नं पाण्डवेषु महात्मसु। आजगामाथ तान् द्रष्टुं व्यास: सत्यवतीसुतः॥
Vaishampayana said : When the illustrious Pandavas were living in disguise, the son of Satyavati, Vyasa, once came to see them.
तमागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य प्रत्युद्गम्य परंतपाः। प्रणिपत्याभिवाद्यैनं तस्थुः प्राञ्जलयस्तदा॥ समनुज्ञाप्य तान् सर्वानासीनान् मुनिरब्रवीत्। प्रच्छन्नं पूजितः पार्थः प्रीतिपूर्वमिदं वचः॥
Seeing him coming, those chastisers of foes advanced and bowed down their heads and worshipped him. Then they stood (before him) with hands. Then they all took their seats at the command (of the Rishi) and the Rishi being thus gratified by the son of Pritha living in disguise, cheerfuily spoke to them thus-
अपि धर्मेण वर्तेध्वं शास्त्रेण च परंतपाः। अपि विप्रेषु पूजा वः पूजार्हेषु न हीयते॥
Vyasa said : "O chastisers of foes, are you following the path of virtue and scriptures? Do you worship the Brahmanas? You are not deficient in giving homage to those that deserve homage."
अथ धर्मार्थवद् वाक्यमुक्त्वा स भगवानृषिः। विचित्राश्च कथास्तास्ताः पुनरेवेदमब्रवीत्॥
Vaishampayana said : That illustrious Rishi thus spoke many worlds of virtuous import. Speaking on various subjects, he again spoke thus-
व्यास उवाच आसीत् तपोवने काचिदृषेः कन्या महात्मनः। विलग्ममध्या सुश्रोणी सुभूः सर्वगुणान्विता॥
Vyasa said : There lived in a wood a certain illustrious Rishi who had a daughter of slender waist, fair hips, fine eye-brows and of all accomplishments.
कर्मभिः स्वकृतैः सा तु दुर्भगा समपद्यत। नाध्यगच्छत् पतिं सा तु कन्या रूपवती सती॥
As a result of her own actions in her previous birth) she became very unfortunate. That beautiful chaste girl did not get a husband.
ततस्तप्तुमथारेभे पत्यर्थमसुखा ततः। तोषयामास तपसा सा किलोग्रेण शंकरम्॥
Thereupon, she began with sorrowful heart to perform austere penances with the object of getting a husband. And she gratified Shankara (Shiva) by her severe ascetic.
तस्या स भगवांस्तुष्टस्तमुवाच यशस्विनीम्। वरं वरय भद्रं ते वरदोऽस्मीति शरूरः॥
The high-souled (deity), being thus gratified, spoke thus to the illustrious girl, "ask the boon you desire to have. Be blessed; I am Shankara who is willing to give you a boon."
अथेश्वरमुवाचेदमात्मनः सा वचो हितम्। पतिं सर्वगुणोपेतमिच्छामीति पुनः पुनः॥
Being desirous of benefiting herself, she again and again said to the supreme deity, "Give me an accomplished husband."
तामथ प्रत्युवाचेदमीशानो वदतां वरः। पञ्च ते पतयो भद्रे भविष्यन्तीति भारताः॥
Then tnat foremost of all great speakers, Ishana (Shiva,) replied to her saying, “O blessed lady, you will have five husbands from among the Bharata princes."
एवमुक्ता ततः कन्या देवं वरदमब्रवीत्। एकमिच्छाम्यहं देव त्वत्प्रसादात् पतिं प्रभो॥
Having been thus addressed the maiden thus spoke to the deity who gave her the boon, "O deity, O lord, I desire to have only one husband through your grace.”
पुनरेवाब्रवीद् देव इदं वचनमुत्तमम्। पच्कृत्वस्त्वया ह्युक्तः पतिं देहीत्यहं पुनः॥
The deity addressed her again and said these excellent words, “You have said five times, "Give me a husband”.
देहमन्यं गतायास्ते यथोक्तं तद् भविष्यति। दुपदस्य कुले जज्ञे सा कन्या देवरूपिणी॥
Therefore, you will have in another life, what I have said now.” That celestials like girl was born in the race of Drupada.
निर्दिष्टा भवतां पत्नी कृष्णा पार्षत्यनिन्दिता। पाञ्चालनगरे तस्मान्निवसध्वं महाबलाः। सुखिनस्तामनुप्राप्य भविष्यथ न संशयः॥
That faultless Krishna, the descendant of Prishata; is destined to be the wife of all of you (the five Pandavas). O greatly powerful heroes, go to the city of the Panchalas and live there. There is no doubt you will all be very happy on obtaining her as your wife.
एवमुक्त्वा महाभागः पाण्डवान् स पितामहः। पार्थानामन्त्र्य कुन्ती च प्रातिष्ठत महातपाः॥
Vaishampayana said : Having said this to the Pandavas, that greatly blessed grandfather, the great ascetic, after having been saluted by the sons of Pritha (the Pandavas) and Kunti, went to the place whence he came.