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.
ब्रह्मोवाच विविक्ताश्रमिणां चैव न मन्त्रः सुखदायकः
Brahmā said: For those who dwell in solitary hermitages, no mantra brings happiness.
निषेकाल्लभ्यते मन्त्रो गुरुर्भर्त्ता च कामिनी
From conception, one obtains a mantra, a teacher, a husband, and a wife.
महेश्वरस्तव गुरुः प्राक्तनो नः पुरातनः
Maheśvara is your teacher, as he was ours in ancient times.
तत एव भवान्मन्त्रं ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा पुरातनात्
Thus, you too have obtained the mantra and knowledge from the ancient one.
इत्युक्त्वा जगतां धाता विरराम च शौनक
Having spoken thus, the creator of the worlds became silent, O Śaunaka.
सौतिरुवाच ऊर्ध्वं ध्रुवाद्योजनलक्षमीप्सितं महार्हरत्नौघविनिर्मितं महत्
Sauti said: Above Dhruva, there is a great region, a hundred thousand yojanas wide, made of the most precious jewels.
निराश्रये योगबलेन शम्भुना धृतं विचित्रं विविधालयान्वितम्
Unsupported, it is sustained by the power of Yoga by Śambhu, wondrous and furnished with various abodes.
मयूखशून्यं रविचन्द्रयोर्मुने हुताशनैर्वेष्टितमेव केवलम्
It is devoid of rays from the sun and moon, O sage, and is surrounded only by fire.
पुरं वरं योजनलक्षविस्तृतं त्रिकोटिरत्नेन्द्रगृहान्वितं सदा
The splendid city, spanning a hundred thousand yojanas, was adorned with three crores of jewel-encrusted palaces of Indra.
माणिक्यमुक्तामणिदर्पणैर्युतं नस्वप्नदृष्टं द्विज विश्वकर्मणः
It was filled with rubies, pearls, gems, and mirrors, never seen even in dreams, O twice-born, and crafted by Viśvakarma.
सिद्धैर्नियुक्तं शतकोटिलक्षैकैस्त्रिकोटिलक्षैश्च युतं स्वपार्षदैः
It was attended by accomplished beings numbering in hundreds of crores and lakhs, and by three crores and lakhs of Shiva's own attendants.
सुरद्रुमैर्वेष्टितमेव सन्ततं मन्दारवृक्षप्रवरैः सुपुष्पितैः
It was encircled continually by divine trees, especially the splendid, fully blossomed Mandāra trees.
दृष्ट्वा मुनिर्विस्मयमाप मानसे किं नात्र चित्रं सुरयोगिनां गुरौ
Seeing this, the sage was filled with wonder in his mind; what marvel is there that is not found at the guru of the divine yogis?
दूरे सभामण्डलमध्यगं शिवं ददर्श शान्तं शिवदं मनोहरम्
From afar, he saw Shiva seated at the center of the assembly circle, peaceful, bestowing auspiciousness, and captivating.
प्रतप्तहेमाभजटाधरं विभुं दिगम्बरं शुभ्रमनन्तमक्षरम् 1.25.
He saw the Lord, bearing matted locks like molten gold, clad in the directions, pure, infinite, and imperishable.
सुनीलकण्ठं भुजगेन्द्रमण्डितं योगीन्द्रसिद्धेन्द्र मुनीन्द्रवन्दितम्
His throat was deep blue, adorned with the king of serpents, and he was worshipped by the foremost yogis, siddhas, and sages.
प्रसन्नहास्यास्यमनोहरं वरं विश्वाश्रयाणां शिवदं वरप्रदम्
His face was radiant with a delightful smile, most excellent, the refuge of the universe, bestower of auspiciousness and boons.
गत्वा समीपं मुनिरेष शूलिनं ननाम मूर्ध्ना पुलकाङ्कविग्रहः
Approaching near, the sage bowed his head to the wielder of the trident, his body thrilled and covered with goosebumps.
दृष्ट्वा मुनीन्द्रप्रवरं च सस्मितं विधेः सुतं वेदविदां वरिष्ठम्
Seeing the foremost among sages, smiling, the son of Brahma, the best among those versed in the Vedas,
ददौ च तस्मै मुनये स संभ्रमादालिङ्गनं चाशिषमासनादिकम्
He gave to that sage, with reverence, an embrace, blessings, and a seat, among other honors.