ततो विनीतो जानुभ्याम् अवलम्ब्य महीस्थितिम् उवाच वीरको देवं प्रणामैकसमाश्रयः
Then, humbly kneeling on the ground, the attendant addressed the god, relying solely on reverent salutation.
सम्प्राप्ता मुनयः सप्त त्वां द्रष्टुं दीप्ततेजसः विभो समादिश द्रष्टुम् अवगन्तुम् इहार्हसि ते ऽब्रुवन्देवकार्येण तव दर्शनलालसाः
'The seven sages have arrived, O radiant Lord, to see you. Please command that they may see and approach you; they have come, eager for your audience, on the gods' behalf.'
इत्युक्तो धूर्जटिस्तेन वीरकेण महात्मना भूभङ्गसंज्ञया तेषां प्रवेशाज्ञां ददौ तदा
Thus addressed by the great-souled attendant, Dhurjati (Shiva) then gave them permission to enter, signaled by a movement of the earth.
मूर्ध्नः कम्पेन तान्सर्वान् वीरको ऽपि महामुनीन् आजुहावाविदूरस्थान् दर्शनाय पिनाकिनः
With a bow of his head, the attendant summoned all those great sages, who were standing not far away, to the presence of the wielder of the bow.
त्वराबद्धार्धचूडास्ते लम्बमानाजिनाम्बराः विविशुर्वेदिकां सिद्धां गिरिशस्य विभूतिभिः
With their hair bound in half-knots and antelope skins hanging down, they entered the sacred enclosure, adorned with the glories of the Lord of the Mountain.
बद्धपाणिपुटाक्षिप्तनाकपुष्पोत्करास्ततः पिनाकिपादयुगलं वन्द्यं नाकनिवासिनाम्
With hands joined in reverence, bearing heaps of celestial flowers, they worshipped the pair of feet of the wielder of the bow, which are venerated by the dwellers of heaven.
ततः स्निग्धेक्षिताः शान्ता मुनयः शूलपाणिना मन्मथारिं ततो हृष्टाः समं तुष्टुवुरादृताः
Then, gazed upon with gentle eyes by the trident-holder, the peaceful sages, delighted, together praised the enemy of Kāma with devotion.
अहो कृतार्था वयमेव सांप्रतं सुरेश्वरो ऽप्यत्र वरो भविष्यति भवत्प्रसादामलवारिसेकतः फलेन काचित् तपसा नियुज्यते
'Ah, now we are truly fulfilled! Even the Lord of the gods will grant a boon here. By the pure water of your grace, some fruit is attained through austerity.'
जयत्यसौ धन्यतरो हिमाचलस् तदाश्रयं यस्य सुता तपस्यति स दैत्यराजो ऽपि महाफलोदयो विमूलिताशेषसुरो हि तारकः
'Blessed indeed is that Himalaya, whose daughter performs austerity at his shelter; even the king of the demons, Tāraka, who uprooted all the gods, will meet his great end.'
त्वदीयमंशं प्रविलोक्य कल्मषात् स्वकं शरीरं परिमोक्ष्यते हि यः स धन्यधीर्लोकपिता चतुर्मुखो हरिश्च यत्संभ्रमवह्निदीपितः
'Seeing your portion, one is freed from one's own impurity of body; blessed in mind is he—the four-faced creator and Hari himself are set ablaze with eagerness for you.'
त्वदङ्घ्रियुग्मं हृदयेन बिभ्रतो महाभितापप्रशमैकहेतुकम् त्वमेव चैको विविधाकृतक्रियः किलेति वाचा विधुरैर् विभाष्यते
Those who hold your pair of feet in their hearts, the sole cause for the pacification of great sins, speak of you alone as the one who performs manifold deeds, though indeed only you exist.
अथाद्य एकस्त्वमवादि नान्यथा जगत्तथा निर्घृणतां तव स्पृशेत् न वेत्सि वा दुःखमिदं प्रजात्मकं विहन्यते ते खलु सर्वतः क्रिया
Therefore, today you alone have spoken; otherwise, the world would be touched by your lack of compassion, or perhaps you do not know this suffering of beings, yet all actions are surely destroyed by you everywhere.
उपेक्षसे चेज् जगतामुपद्रवं दयामयत्वं तव केन कथ्यते स्वयोगमायामहिमागुहाश्रयं न विद्यते निर्मलभूतिगौरवम्
If you neglect the distress of the worlds, by what means is your compassion spoken of? There is no pure majesty of being, hidden in the cave of your yoga and maya, that is unknown.
वयं च ते धन्यतराः शरीरिणां यदीदृशं त्वां प्रविलोकयामहे अदर्शनं तेन मनोरथो यथा प्रयाति साफल्यतया मनोगतम्
And we are more fortunate among embodied beings, for we behold you in this way; thus, the wish in our minds attains fulfillment, as the absence of your vision would render it vain.
जगद्विधानैकविधौ जगन्मुखे करिष्यसे ऽतो बलभिच्चरा वयम् विनेमुरित्थं मुनयो विसृज्य तां गिरं गिरीशश्रुतिभूमिसंनिधौ
You will act as the sole agent of the world's arrangement, at the forefront of creation; therefore, we sages, having abandoned speech, bow thus in the presence of the mountain-lord and the ground of his utterances.
उत्कृष्टकेदार इवावनीतले सुबीजमुष्टिं सुफलाय कर्षकाः
Like excellent farmers on the earth, who sow a handful of good seeds for fruitful harvests.
तेषां श्रुत्वा तु तां रम्यां प्रक्रमोपक्रमक्रियाम् वाचं वाचस्पतिस्तुष्टः प्रोवाच स्मितसुन्दरीम्
Having heard their delightful speech, composed with skill and method, the lord of speech, pleased, spoke with a beautiful smile.
जाने लोकविधानस्य कन्या सत्कार्यमुत्तमम् जाता प्रालेयशैलस्य संकेतकनिरूपणाः
I know the noble purpose of the world's arrangement; the daughter, born of the snowy mountain, is destined for the highest good, as indicated by signs.
सत्यमुत्कण्ठिताः सर्वे देवकार्यार्थमुद्यताः तेषां त्वरन्ति चेतांसि किंतु कार्यं विवक्षितम्
All are truly eager, striving for the work of the gods; their minds hasten, yet what is the intended task?
लोकयात्रानुगन्तव्या विशेषेण विचक्षणैः सेवन्ते ते यतो धर्मं तत्प्रामाण्यात्परे स्थिताः
The wise must especially follow the course of the world; they serve dharma, and others remain established by its authority.
इत्युक्ता मुनयो जग्मुस् त्वरितास्तु हिमाचलम् तत्र ते पूजितास्तेन हिमशैलेन सादरम् ऊचुर्मुनिवराः प्रीताः स्वल्पवर्णं त्वरान्विताः
Thus addressed, the sages quickly went to the Himalaya; there, honored by the snowy mountain with respect, the eminent sages, delighted, spoke a few words with urgency.
देवो दुहितरं साक्षात् पिनाकी तव मार्गते तच्छीघ्रं पावयात्मानम् आहुत्येवानलार्पणात्
The god Pinaki seeks your daughter directly; purify yourself swiftly, as one does when offering oblations into fire.
कार्यमेतच्च देवानां सुचिरं परिवर्तते जगदुद्धरणायैष क्रियतां वै समुद्यमः
This task of the gods has long been turning; let the effort be made now for the rescue of the world.
इत्युक्तस्तैस्तदा शैलो हर्षाविष्टो ऽवदन्मुनीन् असमर्थो ऽभवद्वक्तुम् उत्तरं प्रार्थयञ्छिवम्
Thus addressed by them, the mountain, overwhelmed with joy, spoke to the sages, unable to reply, seeking Shiva for an answer.
ततो मेना मुनीन्वीक्ष्य प्रोवाच स्नेहविक्लवा दुहितुस्तान्मुनींश्चैव चरणाश्रयम् अर्थवित्
Then Menā, seeing the sages, spoke, her voice trembling with affection, to her daughter and to the sages, seeking refuge at their feet, understanding their purpose.
यदर्थं दुहितुर्जन्म नेच्छन्त्यपि महाफलम् तदेवोपस्थितं सर्वं प्रक्रमेणैव सांप्रतम्
The purpose for which a daughter's birth is desired, though it brings great fruit, has now entirely arrived in due course.
कुलजन्मवयोरूपविभूत्यृद्धियुतो ऽपि यः वरस्तस्यापि चाहूय सुता देया ह्ययाचतः
Even if a suitor possesses family, birth, age, beauty, splendor, and wealth, the daughter should be given to him if he asks, having been summoned.
तत्समस्ततपोघोरं कथं पुत्री प्रयास्यति पुत्रीवाक्याद्यदत्रास्ति विधेयं तद्विधीयताम्
How can the daughter depart, having undergone all severe austerities? Whatever must be done according to her words, let that be accomplished.
इत्युक्ता मुनयस्ते तु प्रियया हिमभूभृतः ऊचुः पुनरुदारार्थं नारीचित्तप्रसादकम्
Thus addressed by the beloved of the Lord of Snow, the sages again spoke noble words, pleasing to a woman's heart.
ऐश्वर्यमवगच्छस्व शंकरस्य सुरासुरैः आराध्यमानपादाब्जयुगलत्वात्सुनिर्वृतैः
Know that the sovereignty of Śaṅkara is attained by gods and demons alike, who, fully content, worship his lotus feet.