मुदिताः प्रतिवर्तंते गृहस्थमिव प्राणिनः २३.
Beings return joyfully to you, as to a householder.
उपाकरोषि जंतूनामेवंरूपा हि साधवः २३.
You assist living beings; such indeed is the nature of the virtuous.
कंदरं यस्य चाध्यास्ते स्वयं तव महेश्वरः २३.
The great Lord himself dwells in your cave.
हिमशैलस्य महिषी मेना आगाद्दिदृक्षया २३.
Menā, queen of the Himalaya, came out of desire to see you.
लज्जयानतसर्वांगी प्रविवेश सदो महत् २३.
With all her limbs lowered in modesty, she entered the great assembly.
वस्त्रनिर्गूढवदना पाणिपद्मकृतांजलिः २३.
Her face veiled by her garment, she stood with lotus-hands joined in reverence.
पतिव्रता शुभाचारा सुबगा वीरसूः शुभे २३.
Devoted to her husband, of auspicious conduct, blessed, and mother of a hero, O auspicious one.
ततोऽहं विस्मिताक्षीं च हिमवद्गिरिपुत्रिकाम् २३.
Then I saw the daughter of Himavat, her eyes wide with wonder.
ततो देवी जगन्माता बालबावं स्वकं मयि २३.
Then the goddess, mother of the world, displayed her childish nature to me.
उवाच वाचं तां मंदं मुनिं वंदय पुत्रिके २३.
She gently spoke these words: 'Child, offer respect to the sage.'
इत्युक्ता सा ततो बाला वस्त्रांतपि हितानना २३.
Thus addressed, the young girl, her face partly covered by her garment,
ततो विस्मितचित्तोहमुपचारविदांवरः २३.
Then, my mind filled with wonder, foremost among those who know proper conduct,
रत्नक्रीडनकं रम्यं स्तापितं सुचिरं मया २३.
I placed before her a beautiful jeweled toy, crafted by me over a long time.
वंदमाना च मे पादौ मया नीतांक मात्मनः २३.
As she bowed to my feet, I drew her close to myself.
न तत्पश्यामि यत्तुभ्यं दद्म्याशीः का तवोचिता २३.
I do not see what blessing I could give you that would be fitting.
नोदयामास मां मंदमानशीःशंकिता तदा २३.
Then, hesitating, she did not ask me for a blessing.
तदहं ज्ञातुमिच्छामि कीदृशोऽस्याः पतिर्भवेत् २३.
Therefore, I wish to know what kind of husband she will have.
न जातोऽस्याः पतिर्भद्रे वर्तते च कुलक्षणः २३.
Her husband has not yet been born, O gentle one, and he possesses the marks of a noble lineage.
श्रुत्वेति संभ्रमाविष्टो ध्वस्तवीर्यो हिमाचलः २३.
Hearing this, Himācala was seized with anxiety and his strength was shattered.
अहो विचित्रः सं सारो दुर्वेद्यो महतामपि २३.
Ah, how strange is this world-cycle, difficult to comprehend even for the great.
यत्नेन महता तावत्पुण्यैर्बहुविधैरपि २३.
Even with great effort and many kinds of meritorious deeds,
अध्रुवं तद्ध्रवत्वे च कथंचित्परिकल्प्यते २३.
It remains uncertain, and even its certainty is somehow imagined.
साध्वी महाकुलोत्पन्ना भार्याया स्यात्पतिव्रता २३.
A virtuous woman, born in a great family, may become a devoted wife.
सह वेदपुराणोक्तं जगत्त्रयहितावहम् २३.
Together with what is spoken in the Vedas and Purāṇas, it brings benefit to the three worlds.
तदपत्यमपत्यार्थं संसारे किल नारद २३.
Her offspring is indeed for the sake of progeny in this world, O Nārada.
सर्वमेतदवाप्नोति स कोपि यदिवा न वा २३.
One may attain all this, or perhaps not, whoever it may be.
अथ संसारिको दोषः स्वकृतं यत्र भुज्यते २३.
Then, the worldly fault is that one must experience what one has done.
नेति केचित्तत्र पुनः कथं ते यदि नो गृही २३.
Some say, 'Not so.' Then how is it, if they do not accept this?
पुनश्चसृष्टिवृद्ध्यर्थं नरकत्राणनाय च २३.
Again, for the sake of creation's growth and for the protection from hell,
सा च जातिप्रकृत्यैव कृपणा दैन्यभागिनी शास्त्रेषूक्तमसंदिग्धं वाक्यमेतन्महात्फलम्॥ २३.
She, by her birth and nature, is pitiable and destined for misery; this statement in the scriptures is undoubted and yields great fruit.