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.
तृष्णा मुष्णाति निष्णातं फललोभाश्रयात्पुनः। स्त्रीणां हि परमं जन्म कुलानामुभयात्मनाम्
Desire steals away even the wise, due to the longing for results; for women, the highest birth in noble families is twofold in nature.
इहामुत्र सुखायोक्तं सत्पतिप्राप्तिसंज्ञितम्। दुर्लभत्वात्सतः स्त्रीणां विगुणोपि पतिः किल
Here and hereafter, happiness is said to come from obtaining a worthy husband; but because it is so rare for women, even a husband lacking in virtue is considered a blessing.
न प्राप्यते विना पुण्यैः पतिर्नार्याः कदाचन। यतो निस्साधनो धर्मः परिणामोत्थिता रतिः
A husband is never obtained by a woman without merit; for dharma is without means, and affection arises from its result.
धनं जीवितपर्यंतं पत्यौ नार्याः प्रतिष्ठितम्। निर्द्धनो दुर्मुखो मूर्खः सर्वलक्षणवर्जितः
Wealth remains with a woman only as long as her husband lives; but one who is poor, ill-favored, foolish, and lacking all marks—
दैवतं परमं नार्याः पतिरुक्तः सदैव हि। त्वया देवर्षिणा प्रोक्तं न जातोऽस्याः पतिः किल
The husband is always said to be the highest deity for a woman; but as you, O sage among the gods, have said, she has not yet obtained a husband.
एतद्दौर्भाग्यमतुलमसंख्यं च दुरुद्वहम्। चराचरे भूतसर्गे चिंता सा व्यापिनी मुने
This misfortune is incomparable, countless, and hard to bear; in the creation of moving and unmoving beings, this anxiety pervades, O sage.
स न जात इति श्रुत्वा ममेदं व्याकुलं मनः। मनुष्यदेवजातीनां शुभाशुभनिवेदकम्
Hearing that he is not born, my mind is troubled by this; it reveals the auspicious and inauspicious among humans and gods.
लक्षणं हस्तपादाभ्यां लक्षणं विहितं किल। सेयमुत्तानहस्तेति त्वयोक्ता मुनिपुंगव
A mark is indeed prescribed on the hands and feet; this, you have said, O best of sages, is called 'upraised hands.'
उत्तानहस्तता प्रोक्ता याचतामेव नित्यका। शुभोदयानां धन्यानां न कदाचित्प्रयच्छताम्
'Upraised hands' is said to belong always to those who beg; never to those who are fortunate and blessed with auspicious rise, who do not give.
सुच्छाययास्याश्चरणौ त्वयोक्तौ व्यभिचारिणौ। तत्रापि श्रेयसी ह्याशा मुने न प्रतिभाति नः
You have said her feet have a good shadow, but are unchaste; even there, O sage, no hope of good appears to us.