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.
दशपुत्रसमा कन्या दशपुत्रान्प्रवर्द्धयन् २३.
A daughter is equal to ten sons, and she raises ten sons.
तस्मात्कन्या पितुः शोच्या सदा दुःखविवर्धिनी॥ २३.
Therefore, a daughter is always to be mourned by her father, for she increases sorrow.
यापि स्यात्पूर्णसर्वार्था पतिपुत्रधनान्विता २३.
Even she who is complete in all respects, endowed with husband, sons, and wealth,
केन दोषेण मे पुत्री न योग्या आशिषामता २३.
By what fault is my daughter not worthy of blessings?
निर्धनश्च मुने कस्मात्सर्वेषां सर्वदः कुतः २३.
O sage, why is he destitute, yet always the giver to all? How can this be?
इति तं पुत्रवात्सल्यात्सभार्यं शोकसंप्लुतम् २३.
Thus, out of affection for his son, to him who was overwhelmed by grief along with his wife—
मा शुचः शैलराज त्वं हर्षस्थानेऽतिपुण्यभाक् २३.
Do not grieve, O King of Mountains; you are the recipient of great merit in this place of joy.
जगन्माता त्वियं बाला पुत्री ते सर्वसिद्धिदा २३.
This child of yours is the Mother of the Universe, your daughter who grants all accomplishments.
तदस्याः किमहं दद्मि रवेर्दीपमिवाल्पकः २३.
So what could I possibly give her, as insignificant as a lamp before the sun?
न जातोऽभवद्भार्या पतिश्चेति वर्तते च भवो हि सः २३.
She has not yet become a wife, nor has he become a husband; and indeed, he is Bhava.
शरण्यः शाश्वतः शास्ता शंकरः परमेश्वरः॥ २३.
He is the refuge, eternal, the teacher, Śaṅkara, the Supreme Lord.
सर्वे देवा यत्पदमामनंति वेदैश्च सर्वैरपि यो न लभ्यः २३.
All the gods seek his abode, which cannot be attained even by all the Vedas.
स चामंगल्यशीलोऽपि मंगलां यतनो हरः २३.
Even though Hara has an inauspicious nature, he strives for auspiciousness.
स च देवोऽचलः स्थाणुर्महादेवोऽजरो हरः २३.
That god is unshaken, steadfast, the great god, ageless Hara.
एवं श्रुत्वा सभार्यः स प्रमोदप्लुतमानसः २४.
Hearing thus, he, together with his wife, became filled with joy in his heart.
पुनः किंचित्प्रवक्ष्यामि पुत्र्या मे दक्षिणः करः २४.
Again, I will say something further: my right hand is pledged for my daughter.
इति पृष्टोऽस्मि शैलेन प्रावोचं कारणं तदा २४.
Thus questioned by the Mountain, I then explained the reason.
अभयस्य प्रदाताऽसावुत्तानस्तु करस्ततः २४.
He is the giver of fearlessness; therefore, his hand is extended.
जननी सर्वलोकस्य भाविनी भूतभाविनी २४.
She is the mother of all worlds, destined to be, and the source of all that exists and will exist.
त्वया विधेयं विधिवत्तथा शैलेन्द्रसत्तम २४.
You must perform the rites properly, O best of mountain lords.