Adhyāya 196: Droṇa’s Conciliatory Counsel and Karṇa’s Suspicion of Counsel (मन्त्र-नय-विवादः)
सा प्रसादयती देवमिदं भूयो5भ्यभाषत । एकं पति गुणोपेतं त्वत्तोडहामीति शंकर,यह सुनकर उसने महादेवजीको प्रसन्न करते हुए पुनः यह बात कही--“शंकरजी! मैं तो आपसे एक ही गुणवान् पति प्राप्त करना चाहती हूँ”
sā prasādayatī devam idaṃ bhūyo 'bhyabhāṣata | ekaṃ patiṃ guṇopetaṃ tvatto 'ham icchāmīti śaṅkara ||
Ao ouvir isso, ainda buscando o favor do deus, ela tornou a dizer: “Ó Śaṅkara, de ti desejo obter apenas um esposo, dotado de virtudes.”
व्यास उवाच
The verse foregrounds devotion expressed through humble petition and presents an ethical preference for virtue (guṇa) as the primary criterion in seeking a life-partner.
The woman, intent on securing Śiva’s favor, repeats her request to Śaṅkara: she wants a single husband who is endowed with good qualities.