प्रभावस्तीर्थमुख्यानां तदा पुण्यतमस्त्वभूत्। अंतरिक्षेऽमराश्चासन्विमानेषु सहस्रशः
The radiance of the foremost holy places then became supremely auspicious; in the sky, the immortals were present by the thousands in their celestial vehicles.
समहेंद्रजलाधीश वायु वह्नि पुरोगमाः। पुष्पवृष्टिं प्रमुमुचुस्तस्मिंस्तुहिन भूधरे1.43.
Together with Indra, the lords of water, wind, fire, and others released showers of flowers upon the snowy mountain.
जगुर्गंधर्वमुख्याश्च ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः। मेरुप्रभृतयश्चापि मूर्तिमंतो महाचलाः
The chief Gandharvas sang, and the hosts of Apsaras danced; even the great mountains like Meru, endowed with form, rejoiced.
तस्मिन्महोत्सवे प्राप्ते दिव्याः प्रसृतपाणयः। सागरास्सरितश्चैव समाजग्मुश्च सर्वशः
At the arrival of that great festival, the divine ones with outstretched hands, the oceans and rivers, all gathered together.
हिमशैलोऽभवल्लोके तदा सर्वैश्चराचरैः। संसेव्यश्चाधिगम्यश्च साश्रयश्चाचलोत्तमः
The snowy mountain became, in the world, served, approached, and sought as refuge by all moving and unmoving beings, the foremost of mountains.
अनुभूयोत्सवं देवा जग्मुः स्वान्निलयास्तदा। देवनागेंद्रगंधर्वशैललीलावती गणैः
Having experienced the festival, the gods then returned to their own abodes, along with the hosts of divine serpents, Gandharvas, and mountain-playful beings.
हिमशैलसुता देवी त्वहंपूर्विकया ततः। क्रमेण बुद्धिमानीता विद्याञ्चानलसैर्बुधैः
Then, the goddess, daughter of the snowy mountain, by her previous actions, gradually attained wisdom and knowledge from the wise, skilled in fire.
क्रमेण रूपसौभाग्यप्रबोधैर्भुवनत्रये। संपूर्णलक्षणा जाता हिमालयसुता तथा
Gradually, through beauty, fortune, and awakening, in the three worlds, the daughter of Himālayā was born possessing all auspicious marks.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे शक्रो नारदं देवसंमतम्। देवर्षिमथ सस्मार कार्यसाधनतत्परः
Meanwhile, Indra, intent on accomplishing his purpose, remembered Nārada, the sage esteemed by the gods.
स तु शक्रस्य विज्ञाय कांक्षितं भगवांस्तदा। आजगाम मुदा युक्तो महेंद्रस्य निवेशनम्
Then, understanding Indra’s wish, the blessed one, filled with joy, came to Mahendra’s abode.
तं तु दृष्ट्वा सहस्राक्षः समुत्थाय महासनात्। यथार्हेण तु पाद्येन पूजयामास वासवः
Seeing him, the thousand-eyed one rose from his great seat and, as was proper, Vasava honored him with water for washing the feet.
शक्रप्रणिहितां पूजां प्रतिगृह्य यथाविधि। नारदः कुशलं देवमपृच्छत्पाकशासनम्
Having received the worship offered by Indra according to custom, Nārada inquired after the well-being of the lord of the gods.
पृष्टे च कुशले शक्रः प्रोवाच वचनं प्रभुः। इंद्र उवाच-। कुशलस्यांकुरस्तावत्संवृत्तो भुवनत्रये
When asked about his welfare, Indra, the lord, spoke these words: Indra said: The sprout of well-being has arisen in the three worlds.
तत्फलोद्भवसंपत्तौ त्वं मया विदितो मुने। वेत्स्येव तत्समस्तं त्वं तथापि परिचोदितः
As for the prosperity that arises from that fruit, O sage, you are known to me; you know all of it, yet I urge you nonetheless.
निर्वृतिं परमां याति निवेद्यार्थं सुहृज्जने। तद्यथाशैलजा देवी योगं यायात्पिनाकिना
One attains supreme contentment by informing friends of the matter; so, as the daughter of the mountain might unite with the wielder of the Pināka, let it be so.
शीघ्रं तथोद्यमः सर्वैरस्मत्पक्षैर्विधीयताम्। अवगम्यार्थमखिलं तत आमंत्र्य नारदः
Let all those on our side act swiftly in this endeavor; having understood the entire matter, Nārada was thus addressed.
शीघ्रं जगाम भगवान्हिमशैलनिकेतनम्। तत्र द्वारे स विप्रेंद्रश्चित्रवेत्रलताकुले
The blessed one quickly went to the abode of the snowy mountain; there, at the entrance, amidst a grove of variegated canes, was the lord of brahmins.
वंदितो हिमशैलेन निर्गतेन पुरो मुनिः। सह प्रविश्य भवनं भुवो भूषणतां गतम्
The sage was honored by Himavat, who had come forth; together they entered the palace, which adorned the earth.
निवेदिते स्वयं हैमे हिमशैलेन विस्तृते। महासने मुनिवरो निषसादातुलद्युतिः
When the golden seat was offered and spread out by Himavat himself, the illustrious sage sat upon the great throne.
यथार्हमर्घ्यं पाद्यं च शैलस्तस्मै न्यवेदयेत्। मुनिः स प्रतिजग्राह तमर्घ्यं विधिवत्तदा
As was proper, the mountain offered him water for washing and for drinking; the sage duly accepted that offering.
गृहीतार्घम्मुनिश्रेष्ठमपृच्छत्श्लक्ष्णया गिरा। कुशलं तपसः शैलः शनैः फुल्लाननांबुजः
Having received the offering, the foremost sage was gently asked by the mountain, whose face bloomed with delight, about his welfare and his austerities.
मुनिरप्यद्रिराजानमपृच्छत्कुशलं तदा। नारद उवाच-। अहो धर्मोचितस्तेऽस्ति संनिवेशो महागिरे
The sage also inquired after the welfare of the king of mountains at that time. Nārada said: O great mountain, your dwelling is truly in accordance with dharma.
पृथुत्वं मनसा तुल्यं कंदराणां तवानघ। गुरुत्वं ते गुणौघानां स्थावरादतिरिच्यते
Your vastness matches in mind the caves, O faultless one; the weight of your virtues surpasses that of all immovable things.
प्रसन्नता च तोयस्य मुनिभ्यश्चाधिका तव। न लक्षयामः शैलेन्द्र कुत्राविनयिता स्थिता
Your clarity exceeds that of water and of sages; O king of mountains, we do not see where any lack of humility is found in you.
नाना तपोभिर्मुनिभिर्ज्वलनार्कसमप्रभैः। पावनैः पावितो नित्यं त्वं कंदरसमाश्रयैः
You are ever purified by various austerities performed by sages, resplendent as fire and sun, who dwell in your caves.
अवमत्य विमानानि स्वर्गवासविरागिणः। पितुर्गृहइवासीना देवगंधर्वकिन्नराः
Disregarding celestial palaces, those who have renounced heavenly pleasures—gods, gandharvas, and kinnaras—remain in their father’s house.
अहो धन्योसि शैलेन्द्र यस्य ते कंदरं हरः। अध्यास्ते लोकनाथो हि रामध्यानपरायणः
Ah, you are blessed, O lord of mountains, whose cavern is occupied by Hara, the lord of the worlds, who is devoted to meditation on Rama.
इत्युक्तवति देवर्षौ नारदे सादरं गिरा। हिमशैलस्य महिषी मेना मुनिदिदृक्षया
When the divine sage Narada had spoken thus with reverence, Menā, the queen of the snowy mountain, desiring to see the sage,
अनुयाता दुहित्रा तु स्वल्पालिपरिचारिका। लज्जाप्रणयनम्राङ्गी प्रविवेश निकेतनम्
Followed by her daughter and a few attendants, with a body bowed in modesty and affection, entered the dwelling.
यत्र स्थितो मुनिवरः शैलेन सहितो वशी। तं दृष्ट्वा तेजसो राशिं मुनिं शैलप्रिया तदा
There, where the eminent sage sat together with the mountain lord, seeing the sage, a mass of radiance, the mountain's beloved,