शरीरलक्षणाश्चान्ये पृथक्फलनिवेदिनः। इत्युक्त्वा विरते शैले महादुःखविचारिणि
Other bodily marks indicate different results; thus, when the sorrowful Mountain ceased speaking—
स्मितपूर्वमुवाचेदं नारदो देवपूजितः। नारद उवाच-। हर्षस्थाने च महति त्वया दुःखं निरुच्यते
Then Nārada, honored by the gods, spoke with a smile: 'You speak of sorrow where there is great cause for joy.'
अपरिच्छिन्नवाक्यार्थो मोहं यासि महागिरे। इमां शृणु गिरं मत्तो रहस्यपरिनिष्ठिताम्
You fall into delusion, O great mountain, because the meaning of the words is not limited; hear from me this teaching, established in secret.
समाहितो महाशैल मयोक्तस्य विचारणाम्। न जातोस्याः पतिर्देव्या यन्मयोक्तं हिमाचल
O great mountain, consider carefully what I have said; the goddess has not yet obtained a husband, as I have told you, Himācala.
स न जातो महादेवो भूतभव्यभवोद्भवः। शरण्यः शाश्वतः शास्ता शंकरः परमेश्वरः
He is not yet born—the great god, source of past, present, and future; the refuge, eternal, the teacher, Śaṃkara, the supreme lord.
ब्रह्मरुद्रेन्द्रमुनयो गर्भजन्मजरार्दिताः। तस्य ते परमेशस्य सर्वे क्रीडनका गिरे
Brahmā, Rudra, Indra, and the sages, afflicted by birth, pregnancy, and old age—all are but playthings of that supreme lord, O mountain.
ब्रह्मांडतस्तदिच्छातः संभूतो भुवनप्रभुः। आत्मनो न विनाशोस्ति स्थावरांतेपि भूधर
The lord of the worlds arises from the cosmic egg by his own will; O mountain, there is no destruction for him, even at the end of the immovables.
संसारे जायमानस्य म्रियमाणस्य देहिनः। नश्यते देह एवात्र नात्मनो नाश उच्यते
For the embodied being born and dying in the world, only the body perishes here; there is no destruction for the self.
ब्रह्मादिस्थावरांतोऽयं संसारो यः प्रकीर्तितः। स जन्ममृत्युदुःखार्तो ह्यनिशं परिवर्तते
This world, from Brahmā down to the immovables, is said to be afflicted by the pain of birth and death, and turns ceaselessly.
महादेवोऽचलःस्थाणुर्न जातो जनकोऽजरः। भविष्यति पतिः सोऽस्या जगन्नाथो निरामयः
The great god is unmoving, steadfast, unborn, the father, ageless; he will be her husband, the lord of the world, free from affliction.
यदुक्तं च मया देवी लक्षणैर्वर्जिता तव। शृणु तस्यापि वाक्यस्य सम्यक्त्वेन विचारणम्
And what I said, O Goddess, that she is without marks—listen now to the proper explanation of that statement.
लक्षणं दैविको ह्यंकः शरीरावयवाश्रयः। स चायुर्धनसौभाग्यपरिणामप्रकाशकः
A mark is a divine sign, based in the limbs of the body, and it reveals the outcome of lifespan, wealth, and fortune.
अनंतस्याप्रमेयस्य सौभाग्यस्य तु भूधर। नैवांको लक्षणाकारः शरीरे संविधीयते
But for infinite, immeasurable fortune, O mountain, no such mark or sign is established in the body.
अतोऽस्या लक्षणं गात्रे शैल नास्ति महामते। यच्चाहमुक्तवानस्या उत्तानकरता सदा
Therefore, O wise one, there is no mark on her body; and as for what I said about her hand always being open upward—
उत्तानो वरदः पाणिरेष देव्याः सदैव तु। सुरासुरमुनिव्रातवरदात्री भविष्यति
This upturned hand of the Goddess is ever bestowing boons; she will be the granter of wishes to hosts of gods, asuras, and sages.
यच्च प्रोक्तं मया पादौ सुच्छायौ व्यभिचारिणौ। मत्तः शृणु त्वमस्यापि व्याख्योक्तिं शैलसत्तम
And as for what I said about her feet being radiant and variable—hear now my explanation of that as well, O best of mountains.
चरणौ पद्मसंकाशौ स्वच्छावस्या नखोज्वलौ। सुरासुराणां नमतां किरीटमणिकांतिभिः
Her feet are like lotuses, shining with clear nails, reflecting the brilliant jewels of the crowns of gods and asuras who bow before her.
विचित्रवर्णैः पश्यद्भिः सुच्छायौ प्रतिबिंबितौ। एषा भार्या जगद्भर्तुर्वृषांकस्य महीधर
Gazing at her, with their many-colored crowns, they see her radiant feet reflected; she is the wife of the Lord of the universe, the bull-bannered one, O mountain.
जननी सर्वलोकस्य संभूताभूतभाविनी। शिवेयं पावनायैव त्वत्क्षेत्रे पावनद्युतिः
She is the mother of all worlds, the source of what has been, is, and will be; this Śivā has appeared in your land, O purifier, for the sake of sanctity.
तद्यथाशीघ्रमेवैषा योगं यायात्पिनाकिनः। तथा विधेयं विधिवत्त्वया शैलेंद्रसत्तम
Therefore, let her quickly be united with Pinākin in proper form, O best of mountains, as it should be done.
अस्त्यत्र हि महत्कार्यं देवानां हिमभूधर। एवं श्रुत्वा तु शैलेंद्रो नारदात्सर्वमेव हि
For there is a great task here for the gods, O Himavat; thus, having heard all this from Nārada, the lord of mountains—
स्वमात्मानं पुनर्जातं मेने मेनापतिस्तदा। उवाच चापि संहृष्टो नारदं तु हिमाचलः
At that moment, the husband of Menā considered himself reborn; and, delighted, Himācala spoke to Nārada.
दुस्तरान्नरकाद्घोरादुद्धृतोस्मि त्वया विभो। पातालादहमुद्धृत्य सप्तलोकाधिपः कृतः
O lord, you have rescued me from the dreadful, impassable hell; having lifted me from the netherworld, you have made me lord of the seven worlds.
हिमाचलोस्मि विख्यातस्त्वया मुनिवराधुना। हिमाचलाच्छतगुणां प्रापितोस्मि समुन्नतिं
Now, O best of sages, I am famed as Himācala because of you; through you, I have attained a hundredfold elevation above Himācala.
आनंदादेव चाहारि हृदयं मे महामुने। नाध्यवस्यति कृत्यानां विभागप्रविचारणम्
Out of joy, O great sage, my heart has been seized; it cannot now discern the proper division of duties.
भवद्विधानां नियतममोघं दर्शनं मुने। भवद्भिरेव हि प्रोक्तं निवासायात्मरूपिणाम्
The sight of those like you is always fruitful, O sage; it is said by you sages that the self-manifested ones dwell only with you.
मुनीनां देवतानां च स्वयं कर्तास्मि कल्मषम्। तथापि वस्तुन्येकस्मिन्नाज्ञा मे संप्रदीयताम्
Among sages and gods, I myself am the doer of sin; yet, regarding this one matter, let your command be given to me.
इत्युक्तवति शैलेंद्रे स तदा हर्षनिर्भरः। उवाच नारदो वाक्यं कृतं सर्वमिति प्रभो
When the lord of mountains had spoken thus, filled with joy, Nārada replied, 'All has been accomplished, O lord.'
सुरकार्ये स एवार्थस्तवापि सुमहत्तरः। इत्युक्त्वा नारदः शीघ्रं जगाम त्रिदिवं ततः
In the matter of the gods, that same purpose is even greater for you. Having said this, Nārada swiftly departed for heaven.
स गत्वा देवभवनं महेंद्रं संददर्श ह। ततोनुरूपे स मुनिरुपविष्टो महासने
He went to the abode of the gods and saw Mahendra. Then the sage sat upon a grand seat, befitting his status.