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,
ज्ञात्वा तदिंगितं शैलो महिष्याहृदयेन तु। अनुदीर्णाकृतिर्मेने रम्यमेतदुपस्थितम्
Understanding this gesture, the mountain lord, through his wife's heart, considered this charming event as having occurred.
चोदितः शैलमहिषी सख्या मुनिवरस्ततः। स्मिताननो महाभागो वाक्यं प्रोवाच नारदः
Prompted by the mountain queen and her companion, the eminent sage, smiling and illustrious, spoke these words, O Narada:
न जातोऽस्याः पतिर्भद्रे लक्षणैश्च विवर्जितः। उत्तानहस्ता सततं चरणैर्व्यभिचारिभिः
'No husband has been born for her, O gentle one, and she lacks the proper marks; her hands are always upturned, and her feet are inconsistent.'
सुच्छायास्या भविष्येयं किमन्यद्बहु भाष्यते। श्रुत्वैतत्संभ्रमाविष्टो ध्वस्तधैर्यो हिमाचलः
'She will have a beautiful complexion; what more need be said?' Hearing this, Himācala was seized with anxiety and his composure was shattered.
नारदं प्रत्युवाचाथ साश्रुकंठो महागिरिः। हिमवानुवाच-। संसारस्यातिदोषस्य दुर्विज्ञेया गतिर्यतः
Then, with a voice choked with tears, the great mountain Himavat replied to Nārada: The course of worldly existence is exceedingly flawed, and its outcome is difficult to discern.
सृष्ट्या चावश्यभाविन्या केनाप्यतिशयात्मना। कर्त्रा प्रणीता मर्यादा स्थिता संसारिणामियम्
By the necessity of creation itself, a certain boundary has been established by some supreme agent; this order is fixed for all beings bound to the world.
यो जायते हि यद्बीजाज्जनितुः सोर्थसाधकः। जनिता चापि जातस्य न कश्चिदिति च स्फुटम्
Whatever is born arises from its own cause, fulfilling the purpose of its originator; and it is clear that no one is the true creator of what has already come into being.
स्वकर्मणैव जायंते विवधा भूतजातयः। अंडजोह्यंडजाज्जातः पुनर्जायेत मानवः
All kinds of living beings are born solely by their own actions; an egg-born creature is born from an egg, and a human may be born again as a human.
मानुषोपि सरीसृप्यां मानुषत्वेन जायते। तत्रापि जातौ श्रेष्ठायां धर्मस्योत्कर्षणेन तु
Even a human, when born among reptiles, is born with human nature; and among such births, the highest is attained through the excellence of righteousness.
अपुत्रजन्मनः शेषाः प्राणिनः समवस्थिताः। मनुजास्तत्र सुतरां नयेन सहधर्मिणः
All other living beings, except those born without sons, remain as they are; but among humans, those who follow the path of virtue are especially united with righteousness.