निर्गुणं स्वामिनं साध्वी सेवते च प्रशंसति
The virtuous woman serves and praises her lord, who is without qualities.
साधुः सद्वंशजां कन्यां प्रयत्नेन परिग्रहेत्
A virtuous man should carefully take a maiden of noble lineage.
वरं हुतवहे वासः सर्पवक्त्रे च कण्टके
It is better to dwell in fire, or in the mouth of a serpent, or upon thorns.
मत्तोऽधीतस्त्वया वेदो मह्यं च गुरुदक्षिणाम्
You have studied the Veda from me, and given me the teacher’s fee.
वत्स त्वं कुलजातां च पूर्वपत्नी च मालतीम्
My child, you are born in a noble family, and Mālatī is your former wife.
मनुवंशोद्भवस्येह सृंजयस्य गृहे सती
Here, Mālatī, born in the lineage of Manu, is a virtuous wife in the house of Sṛñjaya.
गृह्णीष्व परमां रत्नमालां च कमलाकलाम्
Accept the supreme jewel, the lotus-like Mālā, as your wife.
आदौ भवेद्गृही लोको वानप्रस्थस्ततः परम् 1.24.
First, one should be a householder; later, one may become a forest-dweller.
वैष्णवानां हरेरर्चा तपस्या च श्रुतौ श्रुता
The worship of Hari by Vaiṣṇavas, and austerity, are both praised in the scriptures.
वैष्णव त्वं गृहे तिष्ठ कुरु कृष्णपदार्चनम्
O Vaiṣṇava, remain in the house and perform worship at the feet of Kṛṣṇa.
नान्तर्बाह्ये हरिर्यस्य तस्य किं तपसाऽनघ
O sinless one, what is the use of austerity for him in whom Hari is not found within or without?
यत्र तत्र कृतं कृष्णसेवनं परमं तपः
Wherever service to Kṛṣṇa is performed, that is the highest austerity.
गृही भव मुनिश्रेष्ठ गृहिणां सर्वदा सुखम्
Become a householder, O best of sages; householders always have happiness.
तद्दर्शनमुपस्पर्शं वाञ्छन्त्येव मुमुक्षवः
Those who seek liberation always desire to see or touch such a one.
ततः सुखतमं पुत्रदर्शनं स्पर्शनं मुने
Therefore, O sage, the greatest happiness is to see and touch one's son.
पुत्रप्रयोजना कान्ता शतकान्ताप्रियः सुतः
A wife is for the sake of a son; a son is dearer than a hundred wives.
सर्वेभ्यो जयमन्विच्छेत्पुत्रादेकात्पराजयम्
One should seek victory over all, but defeat from one's own son.
अतः प्रियतमे पुत्रे न्यसेदात्मपरं धनम् उवाच वचनं तातं नारदो ज्ञानिनां वरः ।। 1.24.
Therefore, place your highest wealth in your dearest son. Thus Nārada, best of the wise, spoke to his father.
नारद उवाच प्रवर्त्तयत्यसन्मार्गे स दयालुः कथं पिता
Nārada said: How can a compassionate father set his son on the wrong path?
जलबुद्बुदवत्सर्वं संसारमतिनश्वरम्
All of worldly existence is as fleeting as a bubble on water.
विहाय हरिदास्यं च विषये यन्मनश्चलम्
Abandoning the service of Hari, the mind wanders in worldly matters.
का वा कस्य प्रिया पुत्रो बन्धुः को वा भवार्णवे
Who is truly dear to whom, who is a son or a relative, in this ocean of worldly existence?
सुकर्म कारयेद्यो हि तन्मित्रं स पिता गुरुः
He who causes another to perform good deeds—he is a friend, a father, a teacher.
इत्येवं कथितं तात वेदबीजं यथागमम्
Thus, O dear one, the seed of the Veda has been explained according to tradition.
आदौ यास्यामि भगवन्नरनारायणाश्रमम्
First, O Lord, I shall go to the hermitage of Nara and Nārāyaṇa.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा स मुनिर्विरराम पितुः पुरः
Having spoken thus, the sage became silent before his father.
क्षणं पितुः पुरः स्थित्वा नारदो मुनिसत्तमः
Standing for a moment before his father, the eminent sage Nārada—
श्रीनारद उवाच तत्सम्बन्धि च यज्ज्ञानं यत्र तद्गुणवर्णनम्।। 1.24.
Śrī Nārada said: The knowledge related to that, and the description of its qualities—
ततः पश्चात्करिष्यामि त्वत्प्रीत्या दारसंग्रहम्
After that, for your satisfaction, I will undertake the collection of a wife.
नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रहृष्टः कमलोद्भवः
Hearing Nārada's words, the lotus-born one was delighted.