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,
ववंदे गूढवदना पाणिपद्मकृताञ्जलि। तां विलोक्य महाभागां देवर्षिरमितद्युतिः
With her face partly concealed, hands joined like lotus buds, she bowed; beholding her, the illustrious sage, radiant as ever,
आशीर्भिरमृतोद्गाररूपाभिस्तां व्यवर्द्धयत्। ततो विस्मितचित्ता तु हिमवद्गिरिपुत्रिका
Blessed her with words resembling nectar, increasing her well-being; then, the daughter of Himavat, her mind astonished,
एक्षिष्ट नारदं देवी मुनिमद्भुतरूपिणम्। एहि वत्सेति साप्युक्ता ॠषिणा स्निग्धया गिरा
Gazed at Narada, the sage of wondrous form; 'Come, child,' he said to her with gentle speech.
कंठे गृहीत्वा पितरमङ्के सा तु समाविशत्। उवाच माता तां देवीमभिवंदय पुत्रिके
Taking her father by the neck, she sat upon his lap; her mother said to her, 'Bow to the goddess, child.'
भगवंतं तपोधन्यं पतिमाप्स्यसि संमतम्। इत्युक्ता तु ततो मात्रा वस्त्रेण पिहितानना
'You will obtain as husband the revered one, rich in austerity,' said her mother; then, her face covered with a cloth,
किंचित्कंपितमूर्द्धा तु वाक्यं नोवाच किंचन। ततः पुनरुवाचेदं वाक्यं माता सुतां तदा
With her head slightly trembling, she spoke nothing; then again her mother addressed her with these words.
वत्से वंदय देवर्षिं ततो दास्यामि ते शुभम्। रत्नक्रीडनकं रम्यं स्थापितं यच्चिरं मया
'Child, bow to the divine sage; then I will give you the beautiful jewel-toy, which I have kept for long.'
इत्युक्ता सा ततो वेगादुद्गत्य चरणौ तदा। ववंदे मूर्ध्नि संधाय पाणिपंकजकुड्मलम्
Thus addressed, she quickly rose and, placing her lotus-bud hands upon his feet, bowed, touching her head.
कृते तु वंदने तस्या माता सखिमुखेन तु। चोदयामास शनकैस्तस्याः सौभाग्यदर्शिताम्
When she had made her obeisance, her mother, through her companion, gently encouraged her to display her auspicious qualities.
शरीरलक्षणानां च परिज्ञानाय कौतुकात्। स्त्रीस्वभावात्स्वदुहितुश्चिंतां हृदि समुद्वहन्
Out of curiosity to discern bodily marks, and bearing in her heart the concern natural to a mother for her daughter,