Shloka 5
Pātāla-varṇana (Nārada’s Description of the Netherworld) / पातालवर्णनम्
अहं ते सर्वमाख्यास्थे दर्शयन् वसुधातलम् । दृष्टवा तत्र वरं कंचिद् रोचयिष्याव मातले
ahaṃ te sarvam ākhyāsthe darśayan vasudhātalam | dṛṣṭvā tatra varaṃ kaṃcid rocayiṣyāva mātale ||
Kaṇva dit : «Je te dirai tout, en te montrant les régions qui s’étendent sous la terre et en t’expliquant ce qui s’y trouve. Et là, ô Mātali, lorsque nous verrons quelque époux digne, nous le choisirons tous deux.»
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes guided discernment in making a consequential choice: one should be shown the relevant circumstances, understand them fully, and then select a ‘vara’ (worthy person) based on merit rather than impulse.
Kaṇva addresses Mātali, promising to lead him through the realms beneath the earth, explain what is there, and together identify and choose a suitable bridegroom when they encounter one who is truly worthy.