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.
कर्त्रा प्रणीता मर्यादा स्थिता संसारिणामियम् यो जायते हि यद्बीजो जनितुः स ह्यसार्थकः
A boundary has been set by the creator for beings bound to the world; for whatever is born from a seed, if the originator is absent, that birth is meaningless.
जनिता चापि जातस्य न कश्चिदिति यत्स्फुटम् स्वकर्मणैव जायन्ते विविधा भूतजातयः
And it is clear that no one is the true creator of what is born; various kinds of living beings are produced solely by their own actions.
अण्डजो ह्यण्डजाज्जातः पुनर्जायेत मानवः मानुषाच्च सरीसृप्यां मनुष्यत्वेन जायते
Indeed, an egg-born being arises from another egg-born; a human may be born again, and from a human, one may be born among reptiles, retaining human nature.
तत्रापि जातौ श्रेष्ठायां धर्मस्योत्कर्षणेन तु अपुत्रजन्मिनः शेषाः प्राणिनः समवस्थिताः
Even among these births, the highest is attained through the excellence of righteousness; the rest of the living beings remain as those who have not produced offspring.
मनुजास्तत्र जायन्ते यतो न गृहधर्मिणः क्रमेणाश्रमसंप्राप्तिर् ब्रह्मचारिव्रतादनु
Among them, humans are born who do not follow the duties of householders; in due order, they reach the stages of life, beginning with the vow of the student.
तस्य कर्तुर्नियोगेन संसारो येन वर्धितः संसारस्य कुतो वृद्धिः सर्वे स्युर्यदतिग्रहाः
By the command of the agent by whom worldly existence is increased, how can there be growth of the world if all were excessively restrained?
अतः कर्त्रा तु शास्त्रेषु सुतलाभः प्रशंसितः प्राणिनां मोहनार्थाय नरकत्राणसंश्रयात्
Therefore, in the scriptures, the begetting of sons is praised by the creator, for the delusion of beings and as a refuge from the torments of hell.
स्त्रिया विरहिता सृष्टिर् जन्तूनां नोपपद्यते स्त्रीजातिस्तु प्रकृत्यैव कृपणा दैन्यभाषिणी शास्त्रालोचनसामर्थ्यम् उज्झितं तासु वेधसा
The creation of living beings does not occur without women; by nature, the female is pitiable and speaks of her own misery, and the creator has deprived them of the ability to discern the meaning of scripture.
शास्त्रेषूक्तमसंदिग्धं बहुवारं महाफलम् दशपुत्रसमा कन्या या न स्याच्छीलवर्जिता
It is stated unmistakably and repeatedly in the scriptures, with great reward, that a daughter who is not lacking in virtue is equal to ten sons.
वाक्यमेतत्फलभ्रष्टं पुंसि ग्लानिकरं परम् कन्या हि कृपणा शोच्या पितुर्दुःखविवर्धिनी
But this statement is fruitless, brings only distress to men, for a daughter is pitiable and to be lamented, increasing her father's sorrow.