वैशम्पायन उवाच ततस्ते नरशार्दूला भ्रातरः पञ्च पाण्डवाः। प्रययुर्दोपदी द्रष्टुं तं च देशं महोत्सवम्॥
Vaishampayana said : Then those best men, the five Pandava brothers, set out out to see Draupadi, the (Panchala) country and the festivities (of Svaimvara.)
ते प्रयाता नरव्याघ्राः सह मात्रा परंतपाः। ब्राह्मणान् ददृशुर्मार्गे गच्छतः संगतान् बहून्॥
Those best of men, those chastisers of foes, saw with their mother many Brahmanas on their way going together (towards Panchala).
त ऊचुर्ब्राह्मणा राजन् पाण्डवान् ब्रह्मचारिणः। क्व भवन्तो गमिष्यन्ति कुतो वाभ्यागता इह॥
O king, those Brahmacharis, those Brahmanas, asked the Pandavas, “Where are you going? Whence have you come?
युधिष्ठिर उवाच आगतानेकचक्रायाः सोदर्यानेकचारिणः। भवन्तो वै विजानन्तु सह मात्रा द्विजर्षभाः॥
Yudhishthira said : O best of the twice born, know, Sirs, that we are five brothers travelling with our mother. We are now coming from Ekachakra.
ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः गच्छताद्यैव पञ्चालान् दुपदस्य निवेशने। स्वयंवरो महांस्तत्र भविता सुमहाधनः॥
The Brahmanas said: Go even this very day to the house of the Panchala Drupada. There will be held a great Svaimvara, in which a large sum of money will be spent. with eyes
एकसार्थं प्रयाताः स्म वयं तत्रैव गामिनः। तत्र ह्यद्भुतसंकाशो भविता सुमहोत्सवः॥
We are going there; let us go together. Extraordinary festivities will take place there.
यज्ञसेनस्य दुहिता द्रुपदस्य महात्मनः। वेदीमध्यात् समुत्पन्ना पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणा॥
The daughter of the illustrious Yajnasena Drupada was born from the sacrificial altar, like lotus leaves,
दर्शनीयानवद्याङ्गी सुकुमारी मनस्विनी। धृष्टद्युम्नस्य भगिनी द्रोणशत्रोः प्रतापिनः॥
With features faultless and with beauty, youth and intelligence; she is the sister of the powerful Dhrishtadyuman, the (would be) slayer of Drona,
यो जात: कवची खड्गी सशरः सशरासनः। सुसमिद्धे महाबाहुः पावके पावकोपमः॥
Who rose as a mighty-armed hero with natural armour, sword, bow and arrows from the blazing fire, himself looking like a second fire.
स्वसा तस्यानवद्याङ्गी द्रौपदी तनुमध्यमा। नीलोत्पलसमो गन्धो यस्याः क्रोशात् प्रवाति वै॥
His sister is the slender wasted and faultless featured Draupadi, whose body emits the Perfume of lotus over full two miles around.
यज्ञसेनस्य च सुतां स्वयंवरकृतक्षणाम्। गच्छामो वै वयं द्रष्टुं तं च दिव्यं महोत्सवम्॥
That daughter of Yajnasena will select a husband in a Svaimvara. We are going there to see her and witness the great celestials-like festivities.
राजानो राजपुत्राश्च यज्वानो भूरिदक्षिणाः। स्वाध्यायवन्तः शुचयो महात्मानो यतव्रताः॥
The kings and princes who are performers of sacrifices in which Dakshina is large, who are devoted to study, who are pure, who are high-souled and vow-observing,
तरुणा दर्शनीयाश्च नानादेशसमागताः। महारथा कृतास्त्राश्च समुपैष्यन्ति भूमिपाः॥
Who are young and handsome, who are great car warriors and accomplished in arms, will all be present there from various countries.
ते तत्र विविधान् दायान् विजयार्थं नरेश्वराः। प्रदास्यन्ति धनं गाश्च भक्ष्यं भोज्यं च सर्वशः॥
Being desirous of victory (to be successful in obtaining Draupadi)those kings, will all give away much wealth, kine, food and other articles of enjoyments.
प्रतिगृह्य च तत् सर्वं दृष्ट्वा चैव स्वयंवरम्। अनुभूयोत्सवं चैव गमिष्यामो यथेप्सितम्॥
Taking all that they will give, seeing the Svaimvara and enjoying the festivities, we shall then go wherever we like.
नटा वैतालिकास्तत्र नर्तकाः सूतमागधाः। नियोधकाच देशेभ्यः समेष्यन्ति महावलाः॥
There will come in that Svaimvara) from many countries, the singers of king's penegeries, the dancers, the reciters of Puranas, the heralds and the powerful athletes.
एवं कौतूहलं कृत्वा दृष्ट्वा च प्रतिगृह्य च। सहास्माभिर्महात्मानः पुनः प्रतिनिवर्व्यथ॥
O high-souled men seeing all these wonderful sights and taking what will be given away, you will also return with us.
दर्शनीयांश्च वः सर्वान् देवरूपानवस्थितान्। समीक्ष्य कृष्णा वरयेत् संगत्यैकतमं वरम्॥
You are handsome, you look all like the celestials: it may be that seeing you, Krishna may chose some one amongst you, superior to the rest, ( as her husband),
अयं भ्राता तव श्रीमान् दर्शनीयो महाभुजः। नियुज्यमानो विजये संगत्या द्रविणं बहु। आहरिष्यन्नयं नूनं प्रीतिं वो वर्धयिष्यति॥
Your this brother is handsome and is endued with beauty; he is also mighty-armed; engaged in (athletic) encounters,) he may by chance earn great wealth.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच परमं भो गमिष्यामो द्रष्टुं चैव महोत्सवम्। भवद्भिः सहिताः सर्वे कन्यायास्तं स्वयंवरम्॥
Yudhishthira said: We shall all go with you to see that great festivity, that Svaimvara of (the Panchala) maiden.