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.
अवमत्य विमानानि स्वर्गवासविरागिणः पितुर्गृह इवासन्ना देवगन्धर्वकिंनराः
The gods, Gandharvas, and Kinnaras, disinterested in heavenly dwellings and scorning their own palaces, lingered as if in their father's house.
अहो धन्यो ऽसि शैलेन्द्र यस्य ते कन्दरं हरः अध्यास्ते लोकनाथो ऽपि समाधानपरायणः
O mountain lord, how blessed you are, whose cave is inhabited by Hara, the Lord of the worlds himself, devoted to meditation.
इत्युक्तवति देवर्षौ नारदे सादरं गिरा हिमशैलस्य महिषी मेना मुनिदिदृक्षया
When the divine sage Nārada had spoken thus with respect, the queen of the snowy mountain, Menā, wishing to see the sage,
अनुयाता दुहित्रा तु स्वल्पालिपरिचारिका लज्जाप्रणयनम्राङ्गी प्रविवेश निवेशनम्
followed by her daughter and a few attendants, entered the residence, her body bowed with modesty and affection.
तत्र स्थितो मुनिवरः शैलेन सहितो वशी दृष्ट्वा तु तेजसो राशिं मुनिं शैलप्रिया तदा
There, the great sage, self-controlled, was seated with the mountain king; and seeing the radiant sage, the mountain's beloved approached.
ववन्दे गूढवदना पाणिपद्मकृताञ्जलिः तां विलोक्य महाभागो महर्षिर् अमितद्युतिः
With her face partly hidden, hands joined like lotus buds, she offered reverence; beholding her, the illustrious sage of immeasurable splendor,
आशीर्भिर् अमृतोद्गाररूपाभिस्तां व्यवर्धयत् ततो विस्मितचित्ता तु हिमवद्गिरिपुत्रिका
blessed her with words as sweet as nectar; then, the daughter of Himavat was filled with wonder in her heart.
उदैक्षन्नारदं देवी मुनिमद्भुतरूपिणम् एहि वत्सेति चाप्युक्ता ऋषिणा स्निग्धया गिरा
The goddess gazed at Nārada, the sage of marvelous form; and the sage, with gentle words, said, 'Come, child.'
कण्ठे गृहीत्वा पितरम् उत्सङ्गे समुपाविशत् उवाच माता तां देवीम् अभिवन्दय पुत्रिके
Taking her father by the neck, she sat upon his lap; her mother then said to her, 'Daughter, offer your respects to the goddess.'
भगवन्तं ततो धन्यं पतिमाप्स्यसि संमतम् इत्युक्ता तु ततो मात्रा वस्त्रान्तपिहितानना
Then her mother said, 'You will obtain as husband that blessed lord, esteemed by all;' hearing this, she covered her face with the edge of her garment.