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
kaṇva uvāca | mātalis tu vrajan mārge nāradena maharṣiṇā | varuṇaṁ gacchatā draṣṭuṁ samāgacchad yadṛcchayā ||
Kaṇva disse: “Ó rei, naquele tempo o grande sábio Nārada seguia por aquele caminho, com a intenção de ir ver Varuṇa. E, enquanto Mātali avançava pela estrada, encontrou-se por acaso com o sábio Nārada.”
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).