ब्रह्मोवाच संपद्विनाशरूपां च विपदो बीजरूपिणीम्
Brahmā said: Calamity, in the form of loss of fortune, is the seed of adversity.
भूतेशं प्रस्थापयत स्वात्मनिन्दां करोति सः
Send the lord of beings; he will bring about self-reproach.
ब्रह्मणो वचनं श्रुत्वा तं प्रणम्य सुराः प्रिये
Hearing Brahmā's words, the gods, O dear one, bowed to him.
सर्वे निवेदनं चक्रुः शंकरं करुणालयम्
All offered their submission to Śaṅkara, the abode of compassion.
देवा मुमुदिरे सर्वे शीघ्रं गत्वा स्वमन्दिरम् 4.41.
All the gods rejoiced and quickly went to their own abodes.
अथ शैलः सभामध्ये समुवास मुदाऽन्वितः
Then the mountain, filled with joy, sat in the midst of the assembly.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र विप्ररूपी शिवः स्वयम्
Meanwhile, at that moment, Śiva himself appeared there in the form of a brāhmaṇa.
दण्डी छत्री दीर्घवासा बिभ्रत्तिलकमुत्तमम्
He bore a staff and an umbrella, wore long garments, and displayed an excellent forehead mark.
तं च दृष्ट्वा समुत्तस्थौ सगणश्च हिमालयः
Seeing him, Himālaya, along with his attendants, rose up.
ननाम पार्वती भक्त्या प्राणेशं विप्ररूपिणम्
Pārvatī, with devotion, bowed to the Lord of Life, who had taken the form of a brāhmaṇa.
शैलदत्तासने शीघ्रमुवास ब्राह्मणः स्वयम्
The brāhmaṇa himself quickly sat upon the seat given by the mountain king.
पप्रच्छ कुशलं शैलो ब्राह्मणं को भवानिति
The mountain king asked the brāhmaṇa about his well-being, saying, 'Who are you?'
घाटिकां वृत्तिमाश्रित्य भ्रमामि धरणीतले
Assuming the life of a mendicant, I wander over the earth.
मया ज्ञातं शंकराय सुतां दातुं त्वमिच्छसि
I know that you wish to give your daughter to Śaṃkara.
निराश्रयायासङ्गयारूपाय निर्गुणाय च 4.41.
To one who is without shelter, without attachment, without form, and without qualities.
दिग्वाससेऽहिगात्राय विभूतिभूषणाय च
To one clothed with the directions, whose limbs are serpents, and who is adorned with ashes.
अज्ञातमृत्यवेऽज्ञायानाथायाबन्धवे भवे
To one whose death is unknown, whose birth is unknown, who is without a master, and who has no relatives in the world.
अज्ञातवयसेऽतीव वृद्धाय चाविकारिणे
To one whose age is unknown, who is extremely old, and who is unchanging.
निबोध ज्ञानिनां श्रेष्ठं नारायणं कुलोद्भवम्
Know that Nārāyaṇa, the best among the wise and the origin of your lineage, is supreme.
महाजनः स्मेरमुखः श्रुतिमात्राद्भविष्यति
The great assembly, with smiling faces, will become so merely by hearing.
बान्धवान्मेनकां प्रश्नं कुरु शीघ्रं प्रयत्नतः
Ask Menakā, your relative, the question quickly and with effort.
रोगिणे नौषधं शश्वत्कुपथ्यं रोचते सदा
For the sick, medicine is always unpleasant, and so too is the right path.
जगाम स्वालयं शान्तो वृन्दावनविनोदिनि शोकेन साश्रुनयना हृदयेन विदूयता
She, whose delight was Vṛndāvana, went peacefully to her own abode, her eyes filled with tears from grief, her heart afflicted.
पृच्छ शैलवरानस्मै न दास्यामि सुतामहम् 4.41.
Ask the best of mountains about this; I will not give my daughter to him.
गले बद्ध्वाऽम्बिकां पश्य यास्यामि घोरकाननम्
Binding Ambika around her neck, she said, 'I will go to the dreadful forest.'
त्यक्त्वाऽऽहारं रुदन्ती च चकार शयनं भुवि
Abandoning food and weeping, she lay down upon the ground.
आजगाम पुनस्तैश्च युक्ता पश्चादरुन्धती
Then Arundhati, accompanied by them, arrived once more.
दत्त्वा षोडशोपचारान्पूजयामास भक्तितः
Having offered the sixteen forms of worship, she honored her with devotion.
जगामारुन्धती तूर्णं यत्र मेना च पार्वती
Arundhati swiftly went to where Menā and Pārvatī were.
उवाच मधुरं साध्वी सावधानां हितं वचः उत्तिष्ठ मेनके साध्वि त्वद्गृहेऽहमरुन्धती
The virtuous one spoke sweetly, attentively uttering words of benefit: 'Rise, O Menā, noble lady, I, Arundhati, am in your house.'