ज्योतिषामपि तेजस्त्वम् अभवत्सुरतोन्नता वनाश्रिताश्चौषधयः स्वादुवन्ति फलानि च
The brilliance of the stars increased, surpassing that of the gods; forest plants bore sweet fruits.
गन्धवन्ति च माल्यानि विमलं च नभो ऽभवत् मारुतश्च सुखस्पर्शो दिशश्च सुमनोहरा
Flowers became fragrant, the sky became pure, the wind was pleasant to the touch, and the directions were exceedingly delightful.
तेन चोद्भूतफलितपरिपाकगुणोज्ज्वलाः अभवत्पृथिवी देवी शालिमालाकुलापि च
Thus, the earth goddess became radiant with the qualities of abundant, ripened, and fruitful produce, and was filled with garlands of rice.
तपांसि दीर्घचीर्णानि मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम् तस्मिन्गतानि साफल्यं काले निर्मलचेतसाम्
The long-performed austerities of the sages with purified minds attained fruition at that time.
विस्मृतानि च शस्त्राणि प्रादुर्भावं प्रपेदिरे प्रभावस्तीर्थमुख्यानां तदा पुण्यतमो ऽभवत्
Forgotten scriptures reappeared, and the foremost holy places became most auspicious.
अन्तरिक्षे सुराश्चासन् विमानेषु सहस्रशः समहेन्द्रहरिब्रह्मवायुवह्निपुरोगमाः
In the sky, the gods assembled by the thousands in their celestial chariots, led by Indra, Hari, Brahma, Vayu, and Agni.
पुष्पवृष्टिं प्रमुमुचुस् तस्मिंस्तु हिमभूधरे जगुर्गन्धर्वमुख्याश्च ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः
They released showers of flowers upon the snowy mountain; the chief Gandharvas sang, and the hosts of Apsaras danced.
मेरुप्रभृतयश्चापि मूर्तिमन्तो महाबलाः तस्मिन्महोत्सवे प्राप्ते दिव्यप्रभृतपाणयः
Even Meru and other mighty, embodied mountains, with divine hands, attended the great festival.
सरितः सागराश्चैव समाजग्मुश्च सर्वशः हिमशैलो ऽभवल्लोके तथा सर्वैश्चराचरैः
All rivers and oceans gathered together, and the snowy mountain became renowned among all moving and unmoving beings.
सेव्यश्चाप्यभिगम्यश्च स श्रेयांश्चाचलोत्तमः अनुभूयोत्सवं देवा जग्मुः स्वानालयान्मुदा
That supreme mountain was both worthy of service and approach; after experiencing the festival, the gods joyfully returned to their own abodes.
देवगन्धर्वनागेन्द्रशैलशीलावनीगुणैः हिमशैलसुता देवी स्वयंपूर्विकया ततः
Then, the daughter of the snowy mountain, the goddess, by her own prior merit, possessed the qualities of gods, Gandharvas, nāgas, mountains, rocks, and forests.
क्रमेण वृद्धिमानीता लक्ष्मीवानलसैर्बुधैः क्रमेण रूपसौभाग्यप्रबोधैर्भुवनत्रयम्
Gradually, she was brought up by wise ones endowed with prosperity and fire, and with increasing beauty, fortune, and awakening, she illuminated the three worlds.
अजयद्भूषयच्चापि निःसाधारैर्नगात्मजा एतस्मिन्नन्तरे शक्रो नारदं देवसंमतम्
The daughter of the mountain, adorned and resplendent with unique ornaments, was victorious; meanwhile, Indra approached Nārada, who is esteemed among the gods.
देवर्षिमथ सस्मार कार्यसाधनसत्वरम् स्मृतिं शक्रस्य विज्ञाय जातां तु भगवांस्तदा
Then the divine sage, eager to accomplish his task, remembered by Indra, and knowing Indra’s wish, the blessed one arose at that moment.
आजगाम मुदा युक्तो महेन्द्रस्य निवेशनम् तं स दृष्ट्वा सहस्राक्षः समुत्थाय महासनात्
Filled with joy, he came to the dwelling of Mahendra; seeing him, the thousand-eyed one rose from his great seat.
यथार्हेण तु पाद्येन पूजयामास वासवः शक्रप्रणीतां तां पूजां प्रतिगृह्य यथाविधि
Vāsava honored him as was proper, with water for the feet; receiving that worship from Indra as prescribed, the sage accepted it.
नारदः कुशलं देवम् अपृच्छत्पाकशासनम् पृष्टे च कुशले शक्रः प्रोवाच वचनं प्रभुः
Nārada inquired after the welfare of the god, the lord of the gods; and when asked in return, Śakra, the lord, spoke these words.
कुशलस्याङ्कुरे तावत् सम्भूते भुवनत्रये तत्फलोद्भवसंपत्तौ त्वं भवातन्द्रितो मुने
As soon as the sprout of welfare arises in the three worlds, you, sage, are ever vigilant for the fruition and prosperity that follows.
वेत्सि चैतत्समस्तं त्वं तथापि परिचोदकः निर्वृतिं परमां याति निवेद्यार्थं सुहृज्जने
You know all this, yet you prompt others; by informing friends of the matter, you attain supreme satisfaction.
तद्यथा शैलजा देवी योगं यायात्पिनाकिना शीघ्रं तदुद्यमः सर्वैर् अस्मत्पक्षैर्विधीयताम्
Therefore, let all our allies act swiftly so that the goddess, daughter of the mountain, may be united in yoga with Pinākin.
अवगम्यार्थमखिलं तत आमन्त्र्य नारदः शक्रं जगाम भगवान् हिमशैलनिवेशनम्
Having understood the entire matter, Nārada, after taking leave of Śakra, went to the abode of the blessed one on the snowy mountain.
तत्र द्वारे स विप्रेन्द्रश् चित्रवेत्रलताकुले वन्दितो हिमशैलेन निर्गतेन पुरो मुनिः
There, at the entrance adorned with varied cane and creepers, the sage was greeted by Himāśaila, who had come out to meet him.
सह प्रविश्य भवनं भुवो भूषणतां गतम् निवेदिते स्वयं हैमे हिमशैले न विस्तृते
Entering together the mansion, which adorned the earth, Nārada was received in the golden palace of Himāśaila, though it was not expansive.
महासने मुनिवरो निषसादातुलद्युतिः यथार्हं चार्घ्यपाद्यं च शैलस्तस्मै न्यवेदयत्
The illustrious sage, radiant beyond compare, sat upon the great seat; as was proper, the mountain offered him water for washing and for his feet.
मुनिस्तु प्रतिजग्राह तमर्घं विधिवत्तदा गृहीतार्घं मुनिवरम् अपृच्छच्छ्लक्ष्णया गिरा
The sage accepted the offering as prescribed, and having received it, the lord of sages gently asked the mountain with kind words.
कुशलं तपसः शैलः शनैः फुल्लाननाम्बुजः मुनिरप्यद्रिराजानम् अपृच्छत्कुशलं तदा
The mountain, his lotus face blooming, softly inquired after the sage’s welfare in his austerities; and the sage likewise asked after the king of mountains’ well-being.
अहो ऽवतारिताः सर्वे संनिवेशे महागिरे पृथुत्वं मनसा तुल्यं कन्दराणां तथाचल
Ah, all have descended to the settlement on the great mountain; the vastness of the caves and the mountain itself seem equal in my mind.
गुरुत्वं ते गुणौघानां स्थावरादतिरिच्यते प्रसन्नता च तोयस्य मनसो ऽप्यधिका च ते
The weight of your virtues surpasses that of all immovable things, and your clarity, like water, exceeds even the mind’s serenity.
न लक्षयामः शैलेन्द्र शिष्यते कन्दरोदरात् न च लक्ष्मीस्तथा स्वर्गे कुत्राधिकतया स्थिता
We do not perceive, O lord of mountains, anything left within the caves’ depths; nor is there any wealth in heaven established with such excellence.
नानातपोभिर्मुनिभिर् ज्वलनार्कसमप्रभैः पावनैः पावितो नित्यं त्वत्कन्दरसमाश्रितैः
By various ascetic sages, radiant like fire and the sun, your caves are always purified, for they dwell within them.