Shloka 1
Pātāla-varṇana (Nārada’s Description of the Netherworld) / पातालवर्णनम्
अ-क्राछ अष्टनवतितमोब् ध्याय: मातलिका अपनी पुत्रीके लिये वर खोजनेके निमित्त नारदजीके साथ वरुणलोकमें भ्रमण करते हुए अनेक आश्चर्यजनक वस्तुएँ देखना कण्व उवाच मातलिस्तु व्रजन् मार्गे नारदेन महर्षिणा । वरुणं गच्छता द्र॒ष्टं समागच्छद् यदृच्छया,कण्व मुनि कहते हैं--राजन! उसी समय महर्षि नारद वरुणदेवतासे मिलनेके लिये उधर जा रहे थे। नागलोकके मार्ममें जाते हुए मातलिकी नारदजीके साथ अकस्मात् भेंट हो गयी
kaṇva uvāca | mātalis tu vrajan mārge nāradena maharṣiṇā | varuṇaṁ gacchatā draṣṭuṁ samāgacchad yadṛcchayā ||
Kaṇva berkata: “Wahai Raja, pada ketika itu maharsi Nārada sedang melalui jalan itu, berniat pergi menghadap Varuṇa. Ketika Mātali sedang berjalan di perjalanan, dia pun bertemu dengan Nārada secara kebetulan.”
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how significant turns in dharmic narratives often arise through ‘yadṛcchā’ (seeming chance). In epic ethics, such encounters are frequently read as providential openings—moments that redirect human aims (like seeking a worthy match) toward wider cosmic and moral considerations.
Kaṇva narrates that Mātali, while traveling, unexpectedly meets the sage Nārada, who is on his way to visit Varuṇa. This chance meeting sets up the subsequent journey and discussions connected with Mātali’s search for a suitable bridegroom for his daughter (as indicated by the chapter’s framing).