Marriage of Kuntī

 vaiśampāyana uvāca

sattvarūpaguṇopetā dharmārāmā mahāvratā
duhitā kuntibhojasya pṛthā pṛthulocanā

Vaiśampāyana said: Daughter of Kuntibhoja, Pṛthā, had large eyes. She was endued with beauty and every accomlishment. She was of rigid vows, devoted to virtue and she possessed every good quality.

tāṁ tu tejasvinīṁ kanyāṁ rūpayauvanaśālinīm
vyavṛṇvanpārthivāḥ kecidatīva strīguṇairyutām

But through maiden was effulgent and possessed beauty and all womanly qualifications and youth, yet no king sought for her hand.

tataḥ sā kuntibhojena rājñā āhūya narādhipān
pitrā svayaṁvare dattā duhitā rājasattama

O best of kings! Thereupon, king Kuntibhoja invited all the kings and offered her in a Svayamvara.

tataḥ sā raṅgamadhyasthaṁ rājñāṁ manasvinī
dadarśa rājaśārdūlaṁ pāṇḍuṁ bharatasattamam

Intelligent Kuntī saw that best of kings, foremost of Bharata race, Pāṇḍu, in the assembly of kings.

siṁhadarpaṁ mahoraskaṁ vṛṣabhākṣaṁ mahābalam
ādityamiva sarveṣāṁ rājñāṁ pracchādya vai prabhāḥ

Proud as lion, broad chested, bull eyed, greatly strong, like sun outshining all kings in splendour.

tiṣṭhantaṁ rājasamitau puraṁdaramivāparam
taṁ dṛṣṭvā sānavadyāṅgī kuntibhojasutā śubhā
pāṇḍuṁ naravaraṁ raṅge hṛdayenākulābhavat
tataḥ kāmaparītāṅgī sakṛtpracalamānasā

Pāṇḍu looked among kings as the second Indra. In assembly that best of men, Pāṇḍu, having seen maiden of faultless feature, amiable daughter of Kuntibhoja, became very much agitated in mind.

vrīḍamānā srajaṁ kuntī rājñaḥ skandhe samāsṛjat
taṁ niśamya vṛtaṁ pāṇḍuṁ kuntyā sarve narādhipāḥ
yathāgataṁ samājagmurgajairaśvaiḥ rathaistathā
tatastasyāḥ pitā rājanvivāhamakarotprabhuḥ

Kuntī advanced in modesty, quivering with emotion and placed nuptial garland round the neck of the king Pāṇḍu. Finding that Kuntī had chosen Pāṇḍu, other kings returned to their kingdoms on elephants, on horses and cars on which they had come. O king! Her father then performed nuptial rites in due form.

sa tayā kuntiibhojasya duhitrā kurunandanaḥ
yuyuje ̍ mitasubhāgyaḥ paulomyā maghavāniva

Descendant of Kuru - Pūru and the daughter of Kuntibhoja - Kuntī blessed with great and good fortune, formed a couple like Indra and Śacī.

kuntyāḥ pāṇḍośca rājendra kuntibhojo mahīpatiḥ
kṛtvodvāhaṁ tadā taṁ tu nānāvasubhirarcitam
svapuraṁ preṣyāmāsa sa rājā kurusattama
tato balena mahatā nānādhvajapatākinā
stūyamānaḥ sa cāśīrbhirbrāhmaṇaiśca maharṣibhiḥ
saṁprāpya nagaraṁ pāṇḍuḥ kauravanandanaḥ

O king! Kuntibhoja, after the marriage of Kuntī presented bridgeroom with much wealth. O best of Kuru race, king Kuntibhoja then sent Pāṇḍu to his own capital. Accompanied by a large force, bearing various kinds of banners and pennons and eulogised and blessed by many Brāhmaṇas and great Ṛṣis. Descendant of Kuru, king Pāṇḍu, reached his own capital and king Pāṇḍu established his wife Kuntī there.