मृत्युकन्या विचारज्ञा यं प्राप्नोति निषेकतः
The daughter of Death, skilled in discernment, approaches one from the moment of conception.
मालावत्युवाच कथं हरसि मत्कान्तं जीवितायां मयि प्रिये
Mālavatī said: How do you take my beloved from me while I am still alive, O dear one?
मृत्युकन्योवाच न च क्षमा परित्यक्तुं बहुना तपसा सति
The daughter of Death said: It is not possible to abandon him, even with much austerity performed.
सती सतीनां मध्ये च काचित्तेजस्विनी वरा
Among all virtuous women, there is one who is radiant and exceptional.
सर्वापच्छान्तिरेवेह तदा भवति सुन्दरि
O beautiful one, at that time, all calamities are pacified here.
कालेन प्रेरिताऽहं च मत्पुत्रा व्याधयश्च वै
Driven by Time, I and my sons, as well as diseases, indeed act.
पृच्छ कालं महात्मानं धर्मज्ञं धर्मसंसदि 1.15.
Ask Time, the great soul, the knower of dharma, in the assembly of dharma.
मालावत्युवाच नारायणांशो भगवन्नमस्तुभ्यंपराय च
Mālavatī said: O Lord, portion of Nārāyaṇa, I bow to you and to the supreme.
कथं हरसि मत्कान्तं जीवितायां मयि प्रभो
How do you take my beloved from me while I am still alive, O master?
कालपुरुष उवाच वयं भ्रमामः सततमीशाज्ञापरिपालकाः
The Personification of Time said: We wander constantly, upholding the commands of the Lord.
यस्य सृष्टा च प्रकृतिर्ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवादयः
From whom are created Nature, Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, and others.
ध्यायन्ते तत्पदाम्भोजं योगिनश्च विचक्षणाः
Wise yogis meditate upon the lotus feet of that One.
यद्भयाद्वाति वातोऽयं सूर्य्यस्तपति यद्भयात्
Out of fear of Him, the wind blows; out of fear of Him, the sun shines.
संहर्त्ता शङ्करः सर्वजगतां यस्य शासनात्
Śaṅkara, the destroyer of all worlds, acts by His command.
राशि चक्रं ग्रहाः सर्वे भ्रमन्ति यस्य शासनात्
By His command, all the planets revolve in their zodiacal circles.
यस्याज्ञया च तरवः पुष्पाणि च फलानि च
By His command, trees bear flowers and fruits.
यस्याज्ञया जलाधारा सर्वाधारा वसुन्धरा 1.15.
By His command, streams of water and the earth, the support of all, exist.
सहसा मोहिता माया मायया यस्य सन्ततम्
Suddenly, the world is deluded by the constant power of His māyā.
यस्यान्तं न विदुर्वेदा वस्तूनां भावगा अपि
Whose end the Vedas do not know, nor even those who comprehend the nature of things.
यस्य नाम विधिर्विष्णुः सेवते सुमहान्विराट्
Whose name is served by Brahma and Vishnu, the great and vast ones.
सर्वेश्वरः कालकालो मृत्योर्मृत्युः परात्परः
The Lord of all, the time of time, death of death, the supreme beyond the supreme.
सर्वाभीष्टं च भर्त्तारं प्रदास्यति कृपानिधिः
The treasury of compassion will grant the desired lord of all wishes.
इत्युक्त्वा कालपुरुषो विरराम च शौनक
Having spoken thus, the Personification of Time became silent, O Shaunaka.
ब्राह्मण उवाच कस्तेऽधुना च सन्देहस्तं पृच्छ कन्यके शुभे
The Brahmin said: What doubt do you have now? Ask, O auspicious maiden.
ब्राह्मणस्य वचः श्रुत्वा हृष्टा मालावती सती
Hearing the Brahmin's words, Malavati, the virtuous one, became delighted.
मालावत्युवाच तत्कारणं च विविधं सर्वं वेदे निरूपितम्
Malavati said: All the various causes are explained in the Vedas.
यतो न सञ्चरेद्व्याधिर्दुर्निवारोऽशुभावहः
From which disease, difficult to restrain and bringing misfortune, does not arise.
यद्यत्पृष्मपृष्टं वा ज्ञातमज्ञातमेव वा
Whatever is asked or inquired, whether known or unknown.
मालावतीवचः श्रुत्वा विप्ररूपी जनार्दनः
Hearing Malavati's words, Janardana, in the form of a Brahmin,
ब्राह्मण उवाच वेदवेदांगबीजस्य बीजं श्रीकृष्णमीश्वरम्
The Brahmin said: The seed of the Veda and its limbs is the seed, the Lord Shri Krishna.