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.'
पितॄणां मानसी कन्या मां जानीहि विधेर्वधूम् उवाच शिरसा नत्वा तां पद्मामिव तेजसा
Know me as the mind-born daughter of the ancestors, the bride of the Creator; she spoke, bowing her head to her, radiant like a lotus.
वधूर्जगद्विधेः पत्नी वसिष्ठस्य ममालये
The bride of the Creator of the world, the wife of Vasiṣṭha, is in my house.
ईश्वरी जगतां स्रष्टुरागता बहुपुण्यतः 4.41.
The Lady, consort of the Creator of the worlds, has come here through great merit.
भोजयामास मिष्टान्नं बुभुजे कन्यया सह
She served sweet food, and ate together with the maiden.
अरुन्धती प्रसङ्गेन संबन्धयोजनानि च बोधयामासुः संबन्धयोजनानि प्रसङ्गतः
Arundhati, in the course of conversation, explained the connections of kinship.
शिवाय पार्वतीं देहि संहर्तुः श्वशुरो भव
Give Pārvatī to Śiva, and become the father-in-law of the destroyer.
तव शङ्काविनाशाय ब्रह्मसंबन्धकर्मणि
For the removal of your doubts, in the rite of union with Brahman—
विधेः प्रार्थनया देव तव कन्यां ग्रहीष्यति
At the Creator's request, O Lord, he will accept your daughter.
हेतुद्वयेन योगीन्द्रो विवाहं च करिष्यति उवाच किंचिद्भीतश्च परं विनयपूर्वकम्
For two reasons, the lord of yogis will perform the marriage; he spoke, somewhat afraid, yet with great humility.
हिमालय उवाच किंचिदाश्रममैश्वर्यं किं वा स्वजनबान्धवम्
Himālaya said: 'Is it for some ascetic grandeur, or for kin and relatives?'
न कन्यामतिनिर्लिप्तयोगिने दातुमर्हति
One should not give a daughter to a yogin who is utterly detached.
नानुरूपाय पुत्राय पिता कन्या ददाति चेत् 4.41.
If a father gives his daughter to a son who is not suitable, it is not proper.
न हि दास्याम्यहं कन्यामिच्छया शूलपाणिने
I will not give my daughter willingly to the wielder of the trident.
हिमालयवचः श्रुत्वा वसिष्ठो विधिनन्दनः
Hearing the words of Himālaya, Vasiṣṭha, son of Vidhī, spoke.
वसिष्ठ उवाच सर्वं जानाति शास्त्रज्ञो निर्मलज्ञानचक्षुषा
Vasiṣṭha said: One who knows the scriptures, with the pure eye of knowledge, knows everything.
असत्यमहितं पश्चात्साम्प्रतं श्रुतिसुन्दरम्
What is false and unwholesome later may now sound pleasing to the ear.
आपातप्रीतिजनकं परिणामसुखावहम्
It brings immediate delight, and in the end, brings happiness.
श्रुतिमात्रात्सुधातुल्यं सर्वकाले सुखावहम्
Simply hearing it is like nectar, bringing happiness at all times.
एवं च त्रिविधं शैल नीतिशास्त्रनिरूपितम्
Thus, O mountain, threefold conduct is described in the treatises on ethics.
बाह्यसंपद्विहीनश्च शंकरस्त्रिदशेश्वरः
Śaṅkara, lord of the gods, is outwardly lacking in wealth.