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.
क्रमेणाश्रमसंप्राप्तिर्ब्रह्मचारिव्रतादनु। तस्य कर्तुर्नियोगेन संसारो येन वर्धितः
In due order, one attains the stages of life, beginning with the vow of the student; by the command of the creator, the cycle of worldly existence is thus perpetuated.
संसारस्य हि नोत्पत्तिः सर्वे स्युर्यदि निर्गृहाः। कर्त्रा तु शास्त्रेषु सदा सुतलाभः प्रशंसितः1.43.
Indeed, if all were without households, there would be no origin of worldly existence; but in the scriptures, the attainment of sons is always praised by the creator.
प्राणिनां मोहनार्थाय नरकत्राणकारणात्। स्त्रिया विरहिता सृष्टिर्जंतूनां नोपपद्यते
For the delusion of living beings and for the purpose of rescuing them from hell, the creation of creatures without women is not possible.
स्त्रीजातिस्तु प्रकृत्यैव कृपणा दैन्यभागिनी। शास्त्रालोचनसामर्थ्याद्दूषितं तासु कर्तृणा
By nature, the female kind is pitiable and destined for misfortune; and due to the limitations seen in scripture, they are blamed by their creators.
तस्यां नोपरिभावज्ञा भवेदेति च वेधसा। शास्त्रेषूक्तमसंदिग्धं बहुवारं महाफलं
It is declared by the creator that there should be no contempt toward her; this is stated in the scriptures, without doubt, many times, and brings great reward.
दशपुत्रसमा कन्या यापि स्याच्छीलवर्जिता। वाक्यमेतत्फलभ्रष्टं पुंसां ग्लानिकरं फलं
A daughter, even if lacking in virtue, is said to be equal to ten sons; but this statement, if fruitless, brings only disappointment and loss to men.
कन्या हि कृपणा शोच्या पितुर्दुःखविवर्द्धिनी। यापि स्यात्पूर्णसर्वार्था पतिपुत्रसमन्विता
A daughter is indeed pitiable and to be mourned, for she increases her father's sorrow; even if she is complete in every way, with husband and sons.
किं पुनर्दुर्भगा हीना पतिपुत्रधनादिभिः। त्वं चोक्तवान्सुता या मे शरीरे दोषसंग्रहम्
How much more so if she is unfortunate, lacking husband, sons, wealth, and the like? And you have said that my daughter is a collection of faults in my own body.
अहो मुह्यामि शुष्यामि ग्लामि सीदामि नारद। अयुक्तमपि वक्तव्यमप्राप्यमपि सांप्रतम्
Alas, I am bewildered, I wither, I am exhausted, I sink, O Nārada; even what is improper or unattainable must now be spoken.
अनुग्रहाय मे छिन्धि दुःखं कन्याश्रयं मुने। परिच्छिन्नेप्यसंदिग्धे मनः परिभवाश्रयात्
For my relief, O sage, cut off the sorrow that comes from my daughter; even when the mind is resolved and undoubting, it is still subject to humiliation.