नारद उवाच बन्धुत्वादथवा सख्याच्छाल्मले नात्र संशयः। पालयत्येव सततं भीमः सर्वत्रगोऽनिलः॥
Narada said Forsooth, O Shalmali, the dreadful and irresistible god of wind always protects you friendliness.
न्यग्भावं परमं वायोः शाल्मले त्वमुपागतः। तवाहमस्मीति सदा येन रक्षति मारुतः॥
It seems, O Shalmali, that a close intimacy exists between you and the Wind. It seems, you have said him these words, viz.,-I. am yours-and it is, therefore, that the Wind-god protects you.
न तं पश्याम्यहं वृक्षं पर्वतं वेश्म चेदृशम्। यं न वायुबलाद् भग्नं पृथिव्यामिति मे मतिः॥
I do not see the tree or mountain or palace in this world which may not, I think, be broken by the Wind.
त्वं पुनः कारणैनं रक्ष्यसे शाल्मले यथा। वायुना सपरीवारस्तेन तिष्ठस्यसंशयम्॥
Forsooth, you stand here with all your branches and twigs and leaves, simply because, O Shalmali, you are protected by the Wind for some reason or reasons (unknown to us)!
शाल्मलिरुवाच न मे वायुः सखा ब्रह्मन्न बन्धुर्न च सुहृत्। परमेष्ठी तथा नैव येन रक्षति वानिलः॥ मे
The Wind, O twice-born one, is either my friend nor companion nor well-wisher. Nor is he iny great Creator that he should protect me.
मम तेजो बलं भीमं वायोरपि हि नारद। कलामष्टादशी प्राणैर्न मे प्राप्नोति मारुतः॥
My terrific energy and power, O Narada, are the greater than the Wind's. In sooth, the strength of the Wind is only an eighteenth part of mine.
आगच्छन् परुषो वायुर्मया विष्टम्भितो बलात्। भञ्जन् दुमान् पर्वतांश्च यच्चान्यदपि किंचन॥
When the Wind blows fearfully, tearing up trees and mountains and other things, I abate his strength by displaying mine.
स मया बहुशो भग्नः प्रभञ्जन् वै प्रभञ्जनः। तस्मान्न बिभ्ये देवर्षे क्रुद्धादपि समीरणात्॥
Indeed, the Wind that breaks many things has himself been again and agair broken by me. Therefore, O celestial Rishi, I am not afraid of him even when he comes in fury.
नारद उवाच शाल्मले विपरीतं ते दर्शनं नात्र संशयः। न हि वायोर्बलेनास्ति भूतं तुल्यबलं क्वचित्॥
Narada said-O Shalmali, what you think seems to be quite the reverse of truth. There is no doubt in this. There is no created thing which is so strong as the Wind.
इन्द्रो यमो वैश्रवणो वरुणश्च जलेश्वरः। नैतेऽपि तुल्या मरुतः किं पुनस्त्वं वनस्पते॥
Even Indra, Yama, Vaishravana, of Varuna the king of the waters, is not equal to the god of wind in might. What to speak of you who are only a tree.
यच्च किंचिदिह प्राणी चेष्टते शाल्मले भुवि। सर्वत्र भगवान् वायुश्चेष्टाप्राणकरः प्रभुः॥
The illustrious Wind-god is always the root of all the acts of creatures in this world, since it is he that is the giver of life.
एष चेश्यते सम्यक् प्राणिनः सम्यगायतः। असम्यगायतो भूयश्चेष्टते विकृतं नृषु॥
When the god does his work properly, he makes all living creatures live at their ease. When, however, he does it improperly, calamities visit the Earth.
स त्वमेवंविधं वायुं सर्वसत्त्वभृतां वरम्। न पूजयसि पूज्यं तं किमन्यद् बुद्धिलाघवात्॥
What else can it be but weakness of understanding which induces you not to adore the god of wind, that foremost of beings in the universe, and worthy of adoration.
असारश्चापि दुर्मेधाः केवलं बहु भाषसे। क्रोधादिभिरवच्छन्नो मिथ्या वदसि शाल्मले॥
You are worthless and of a wicked understanding, you are but making an idleboast. Your intelligence being confounded by anger and other passions, you indulge in untruths, O Shalmali.
मम रोषः समुत्पन्नस्त्वय्येवं सम्प्रभाषति। ब्रवीम्येष स्वयं वायोस्तव दुर्भाषितं बहु॥
I am certainly angry with you, for your giving vent to such words. I shall myself communicate to the Windgod all these derogatory words of yours.
चन्दनैः स्यन्दनैः शालैः सरलैर्देवदारुभिः। वेतसैर्धन्वनैश्चापि ये चान्ये बलवत्तराः॥
Chandanas, Syandanas, Shalas, Saralas, Devadarus, Vetasas and Dhanvanas and other noble trees that are far stronger than you, have never, you of wicked understanding, spoken such evil words against the Wind.
तैश्चापि नैवं दुर्बुद्धे क्षिप्तो वायुः कृतात्मभिः। तेऽपि जानन्ति वायोश्च बलमात्मन एव च॥ तस्मात् तं वै नमस्यन्ति श्वसनं तरुसत्तमाः।
All of them are cognisant of the power of the Wind as also the power that each of them possesses. For these reasons those foremost of trees respectfully salute that god.
त्वं तु मोहान्न जानीषे वायोर्बलमनन्तकम्। एवं तस्माद् गमिष्यामि सकाशं मातरिश्वनः॥
However, through folly, you are only unaware of the infinite power of the Wind, I shall, therefore, go to that god.