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.
किंचित्कम्पितमूर्धा तु वाक्यं नोवाच किंचन ततः पुनरुवाचेदं वाक्यं माता सुतां तदा
Her head slightly trembling, she spoke not a word; then again her mother addressed her with these words.
वत्से वन्दय देवर्षिं ततो दास्यामि ते शुभम् रत्नक्रीडनकं रम्यं स्थापितं यच्चिरं मया
'Child, bow to the divine sage; then I will give you the beautiful jeweled toy, delightful and long kept by me.'
इत्युक्ता तु ततो वेगाद् उद्धृत्य चरणौ तदा ववन्दे मूर्ध्नि संधाय करपङ्कजकुड्मलम्
Thus urged, she quickly rose and, placing her lotus-bud hands upon his feet, bowed, touching her head to them.
कृते तु वन्दने तस्या माता सखीमुखेन तु चोदयामास शनकैस् तस्याः सौभाग्यशंसिनाम्
When she had offered her respects, her mother, through her companions, gently encouraged those who praised her good fortune.
शरीरलक्षणानां तु विज्ञानाय तु कौतुकात् स्त्रीस्वभावाद्यद्दुहितुश् चिन्तां हृदि समुद्वहन्
Out of curiosity to know the marks on her daughter's body, and due to a woman's nature, she bore in her heart a thought about her daughter.
ज्ञात्वा तदिङ्गितं शैलो महिष्या हृदयेन तु अनुद्गीर्णो ऽक्षतिर्मेने रम्यमेतदुपस्थितम्
Understanding her wife's intention in his heart, the mountain king, though nothing was spoken, considered this a pleasing development.
चोदितः शैलमहिषीसख्या मुनिवरस्तदा स्मिताननो महाभागो वाक्यं प्रोवाच नारदः
Urged by the queen's companion, the great sage Nārada, smiling, spoke these words to the mountain king:
न जातो ऽस्याः पतिर्भद्रे लक्षणैश्च विवर्जिता उत्तानहस्ता सततं चरणैर्व्यभिचारिभिः स्वछायया भविष्येयं किमन्यद्बहु भाष्यते
'O gentle one, no husband is born for her; she is devoid of auspicious marks. Her hands are always open, her feet unsteady; by her own shadow she will exist. What more need be said?'
श्रुत्वैतत्संभ्रमाविष्टो ध्वस्तधैर्यो महाबलः नारदं प्रत्युवाचाथ साश्रुकण्ठो महागिरिः
Hearing this, overwhelmed with agitation and his courage shattered, the mighty mountain, with tears in his voice, spoke to Nārada.
संसारस्यातिदोषस्य दुर्विज्ञेया गतिर्यतः सृष्ट्यां चावश्यभाविन्यां केनाप्यतिशयात्मना
Because the course of worldly existence is exceedingly faulty and difficult to comprehend, and since creation is inevitable, it is brought about by some extraordinary agent.