पुरा पिता नो भगवान्दक्षो दुहितृवत्सलः कं वृणीत वरं वत्सा इत्यपृच्छत नः पृथक्
purā pitā no bhagavān dakṣo duhitṛ-vatsalaḥ kaṁ vṛṇīta varaṁ vatsā ity apṛcchata naḥ pṛthak
Synonyms
purā—in days long ago; pitā—father; naḥ—our; bhagavān—the most opulent; dakṣaḥ—Dakṣa; duhitṛ-vatsalaḥ—affectionate to his daughters; kam—unto whom; vṛṇīta—you want to accept; varam—your husband; vatsāḥ—O my children; iti—thus; apṛcchata—inquired; naḥ—us; pṛthak—separately..
Translation
In days long ago, our father, the most opulent Dakṣa, who was affectionate to his daughters, asked each of us separately whom we would prefer to select as our husband.
Purport
It appears from this verse that free selection of a husband was allowed by the father, but not by free association. The daughters were asked separately to submit their selection of a husband who was famous for his acts and personality. The ultimate selection depended on the choice of the father.