पुरा पिता नो भगवान् दक्षो दुहितृवत्सलः ।
कं वृणीत वरं वत्सा इत्यपृच्छत नः पृथक् ॥ १३ ॥
pura-in days long ago; pita-father; nah-our; bhagavan-the most opulent; daksah-Daksa; duhitr-vatsalah-affectionate to his daughters; kam-unto whom; vrnita-you want to accept; varam-your husband; vatsah-O my children; iti-thus; aprcchata-inquired; nah-us; prthak-separately.
In days long ago, our father, the most opulent Daksa, who was affectionate to his daughters, asked each of us separately whom we would prefer to select as our husband.
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.