गौरीगुरुत्वाद्धिमवानादिपत्याच्च भूभृताम्
Due to Gauri’s greatness and Himavat’s lordship among the mountains,
नमेरुः स्वर्णपूर्णत्वाद्रत्नसानुतयाथवा
Mount Meru, because it is filled with gold and crowned with jewels,
परं शतं न किंशैला इलाकलनकेलयः
A hundred other mountains are insignificant, mere playthings for the earth.
मन्देहदेहसंदेहादुदयैकदयाश्रितः
Due to the uncertainty of the bodies of the Mandeha demons, only a single ray is relied upon for their rise.
नीलश्च नीलीनिलयो मन्दरो मन्दलोचनः
Nīla, whose abode is blue, Mandara, whose eyes are circular,
हेमकूटत्रिकूटाद्याः कूटोत्तरपदास्तुते
Hemakūṭa, Trikūṭa, and others, whose names end with 'kūṭa,' are praised by you.
इति विंध्यवचः श्रुत्वा नारदोऽचिन्तयद्धृदि
Hearing these words of Vindhya, Nārada pondered in his heart.
श्रीशैलमुख्याः किंशैलानेह संत्यमलश्रियः 4.1.1.
Are the foremost mountains here, such as Śrīśaila and Kiṃśaila, truly without blemish and glory?
अद्यास्य बलमालोक्यमिति ध्यात्वाब्रवीन्मुनिः
Today, having observed his strength, the sage, after reflecting, spoke.
परं शैलेषु शैलेंद्रो मेरुस्त्वामवमन्यते
Among mountains, O king of mountains, Meru considers you as insignificant.
अथवा मद्विधानां हि केयं चिंता महात्मनाम्
Or else, what concern is this for the great-souled ones like me?
गते मुनौ निनिंदस्वमतीवोद्विग्नमानसः
When the sage had departed, he reproached himself, his mind greatly troubled.
विंध्य उवाच धिग्जीवितंशास्त्रकलोज्झितस्य धिग्जीवितं चोद्यमवर्जितस्य
Vindhya said: Fie upon the life of one bereft of knowledge and skill; fie upon the life of one devoid of effort.
कथं भुनक्ति स दिवा कथं रात्रौ स्वपित्यहो
How does such a one eat by day, how does he sleep at night—alas!
अहोदवाग्निदवथुस्तथामां न स बाधते
Neither forest fire nor disease afflicts me so much as this.
युक्तमुक्तं पुराविद्भिश्चिन्तामूर्तिः सुदारुणा
It was rightly spoken by the wise of old: worry is a most terrible affliction.
चिन्ताज्वरो मनुष्याणां क्षुधांनिद्रांबलं हरेत्
The fever of anxiety takes away hunger, sleep, and strength from people.
ज्वरो व्यतीते षडहे जीर्णज्वर इहोच्यते 4.1.1.
A fever that lasts six days is called 'chronic fever' here.
धन्यो धन्वतरिर्नात्र चरकश्चरतीह न
Blessed is Dhanvantari here; Caraka does not wander in this place.
किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि कथं मेरुं जयाम्यहम्
What shall I do, where shall I go, how shall I conquer Meru?
शक्रं कोपयता पूर्वमस्मद्गोत्रेण केनचित्
Formerly, someone from my lineage angered Indra.
अथवा स कथं मेरुस्तथोच्चैः स्पर्द्धते मया
Or else, how does Meru compete with me in such great height?
अलीकवाक्त्वमथवा संभाव्यं नारदे कथम्
Or perhaps Nārada's words are false—how can that be considered?
युक्तायुक्तविचारोथ मादृशेनोपयुज्यते
Indeed, the discernment of what is proper and improper is to be employed by one like me.
अथवा चिन्तनैरेतैः किंव्यर्थैर्विश्वकारकम्
Or else, what is the use of these fruitless thoughts concerning the Maker of the universe?
अनाथनाथः सर्वेषां विश्वनाथो हि गीयते
He who is the Lord of all, the protector of the helpless, is indeed praised as the Lord of the universe.
एतदेव करिष्यामि नेष्टं कालविलंबनम्
This alone I shall do; I do not desire delay caused by hesitation.
मेरुं प्रदक्षिणीकुर्यान्नित्यमेव दिवाकरः 4.1.1.
The Sun always circles Mount Meru, indeed, without fail.
इति निश्चित्य विन्ध्याद्रिर्ववृधे स मृधेक्षणः
Having thus resolved, Vindhya, with gentle gaze, began to grow.
कैश्चित्सार्द्धं विरोधो न कर्तव्यः केनचित्क्वचित्
No one, anywhere, should ever engage in conflict together with certain others.