त्यक्त्वा व्रतात्मकं मौनं मौनं जग्राह ह्रीमयम् भावं तस्यास्तु मौनान्तं तस्याः सप्तर्षयो यथा
Having abandoned the vow of silence, she adopted a silence filled with modesty; the end of her silence was as the seven sages observed.
गौरवाधीनतां प्राप्ताः पप्रच्छुस्तां पुनस्तथा सापि गौरवगर्भेण मनसा चारुहासिनी
Having attained a state of respectful dependence, they questioned her again; she too, with a mind filled with respect, beautiful and smiling, responded.
मुनीञ्शान्तकथालापान् प्रेक्ष्य प्रोवाच वाग्यमम् भगवन्तो विजानन्ति प्राणिनां मानसं हितम्
Seeing the sages engaged in peaceful conversation, she spoke, restraining her speech: 'You, revered ones, know what is beneficial for living beings' minds.'
मनोगतीभिरत्यर्थं कदर्थन्ते हि देहिनः केचित् तु निपुणास्तत्र घटन्ते विबुधोद्यमैः
With mental movements, some people greatly distort things; but some, skilled, strive with divine effort.
उपायैर्दुर्लभान्भावान् प्राप्नुवन्ति ह्यतन्द्रिताः अपरे तु परिच्छिन्ना नानाकाराभ्युपक्रमाः
By means, the diligent attain rare states; others, limited, undertake various approaches of different forms.
देहान्तरार्थमारम्भम् आश्रयन्ति हितप्रदम् मम त्वाकाशसम्भूतपुष्पदामा विभूषितम्
For the sake of another body, they undertake actions that bring benefit; but I, adorned with a garland of flowers born from the sky—
वन्ध्या सुतं प्राप्तुकामा मनः प्रसरते मुहुः अहं किल भवं देवं पतिं प्राप्तुं समुद्यता
A barren woman wishes to obtain a son, her mind repeatedly yearns; I, indeed, am striving to obtain the blessed god as my husband.
प्रकृत्यैव दुराधर्षं तपस्यन्तं तु संप्रति सुरासुरैरनिर्णीतं परमार्थक्रियाश्रयम्
By nature unconquerable, he is now engaged in austerity; his ultimate actions are undecided by gods and demons alike.
सांप्रतं चापि निर्दग्धमदनं वीतरागिणम् कथमाराधयेदीशं मादृशी तादृशं शिवम्
Now that he is scorched by love and free from passion, how could someone like me win the favor of such a Shiva?
इत्युक्ता मुनयस्ते तु स्थिरतां मनसस्ततः ज्ञातुमस्या वचः प्रोचुः प्रक्रमात्प्रकृतार्थकम्
Addressed thus, those sages, steady in mind, spoke in turn to discern her intent, expressing words true to the matter at hand.
द्विविधं तु सुखं तावत् पुत्रि लोकेषु भाव्यते शरीरस्यास्य संभोगैश् चेतसश्चापि निर्वृतिः
Daughter, in this world, there are two kinds of happiness: one is the enjoyment of the body, and the other is the contentment of the mind.
प्रकृत्या स तु दिग्वासा भीमः पितृवणेशयः कपाली भिक्षुको नग्नो विरूपाक्षः स्थिरक्रियः
By his very nature, he is clothed in the directions, fearsome, lord of the cremation ground, skull-bearer, mendicant, naked, deformed-eyed, and steadfast in his actions.
प्रमत्तोन्मत्तकाकारो बीभत्सकृतसंग्रहः यतिना तेन कस्ते ऽर्थो मूर्तानर्थेन काङ्क्षितः
He appears intoxicated and mad, collects dreadful things, and lives as an ascetic—what purpose would you have with him, who is sought in such a form of misfortune?
यदि ह्यस्य शरीरस्य भोगमिच्छसि सांप्रतम् तत्कथं ते महादेवाद् भयभाजो जुगुप्सितात्
If you now desire enjoyment with this body, then why do you long for the great god, who is fearsome and repulsive?
स्रवद्रक्तवसाभ्यक्तकपालकृतभूषणात् श्वसदुग्रभुजंगेन्द्रकृतभूषणभीषणात्
He is adorned with ornaments smeared with oozing blood and fat, and terrifying with the fierce serpent coiled around his arms.
श्मशानवासिनो रौद्रप्रमथानुगतात् सति सुरेन्द्रमुकुटव्रातनिघृष्टचरणो ऽरिहा
He dwells in cremation grounds, is followed by fierce spirits, and though his feet are rubbed by the crowns of the lords of gods, he is the slayer of enemies.
हरिरस्ति जगद्धाता श्रीकान्तो ऽनन्तमूर्तिमान् नाथो यज्ञभुजामस्ति तथेन्द्रः पाकशासनः
There is Hari, the sustainer of the world, the beloved of Shri, of infinite form; there is the lord of those who partake of sacrifice, and Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt.
देवतानां निधिश्चास्ति ज्वलनः सर्वकामकृत् वायुरस्ति जगद्धाता यः प्राणः सर्वदेहिनाम्
There is also Agni, the treasure of the gods, who fulfills all desires; there is Vayu, the sustainer of the world, the breath of all beings.
तथा वैश्रवणो राजा सर्वार्थमतिमान्विभुः एभ्य एकतमं कस्मान् न त्वं सम्प्राप्तुमिच्छसि
Likewise, there is King Vaishravana, the all-knowing, supreme in every way—why do you not wish to attain any one of these?
उतान्यदेहसंप्राप्त्या सुखं ते मनसेप्सितम् एवमेतत्तवाप्यत्र प्रभवो नाकसंपदाम् अस्मिन्नेव पराः सर्वाः कल्याणप्राप्तयस्तव
Or, by obtaining another body, you could have the happiness your mind desires; in this way, your birth would bring you all the highest blessings of heaven, all auspicious attainments would be yours.
पितुरेवास्ति तत्सर्वं सुरेभ्यो यन्न विद्यते अतस्तत्प्राप्तये क्लेशः स वाप्यत्राफलस्तव
All that is not found among the gods belongs to your father alone; therefore, striving for that is a hardship, and even so, it may be fruitless for you.
प्रायेण प्रार्थितो भद्रे सुस्वल्पो ह्यतिदुर्लभः अस्य ते विधियोगस्य धाता कर्तात्र चैव हि
O blessed one, even when earnestly sought, it is very rare and difficult to obtain; the creator alone is the arranger and accomplisher of this union for you.
इत्युक्ता सा तु कुपिता मुनिवर्येषु शैलजा उवाच कोपरक्ताक्षी स्फुरद्भिर्दशनच्छदैः
Thus addressed, the mountain-born, angered at the eminent sages, spoke with eyes reddened in wrath, her teeth tightly clenched.
असद्ग्रहस्य का प्रीतिर् व्यसनस्य क्व यन्त्रणा विपरीतार्थबोद्धारः सत्पथे केन योजिताः
What joy is there in false attachment? Where is the restraint in misfortune? Who has set those who misunderstand the true meaning on the path of righteousness?
एवं मां वेत्थ दुष्प्रज्ञां ह्य् अस्थानासद्ग्रहप्रियाम् न मां प्रतिविचारो ऽस्ति यत्रेहासद्ग्रहावितौ
So you see me as foolish, fond of unworthy and false attachments; I have no concern for myself, since I am devoted to such false attachments.
प्रजापतिसमाः सर्वे भवन्तः सर्वदर्शिनः नूनं न वेत्थ तं देवं शाश्वतं जगतः प्रभुम्
All of you are like Prajapatis, all-seeing; yet surely you do not know that eternal god, the lord of the world.
अजमीशानमव्यक्तम् अमेयमहिमोदयम्
Unborn, lord of all, unmanifest, whose greatness and arising cannot be measured.
आस्तां तद्धर्मसद्भावसंबोधस्तावदद्भुतः विदुर्यं न हरिब्रह्मप्रमुखा हि सुरेश्वराः
Let that wondrous realization of the true nature of dharma remain; for even the foremost of gods, beginning with Hari and Brahma, do not know it.
यत्तस्य विभवात्स्वोत्थं भुवनेषु विजृम्भितम् प्रकटं सर्वभूतानां तदप्यत्र न वेत्थ किम्
Whatever has arisen in the worlds from his own power and is manifest among all beings—even that, do you not know here?
कस्यैतद्गगनं भूरितः कस्याग्निः कस्य मारुतः कस्य भूः कस्य वरुणः कश्चन्द्रार्कविलोचनः
Whose is this vast sky? Whose is fire? Whose is wind? Whose is earth? Whose is Varuna? Who has the moon and sun as eyes?