03.213
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Markandeya said.
agnīnām vividhō vamśaḥ kīrtitaste mayānagha। śṛṇu janma tu kauravya kārttikeyasya dhīmataḥ ॥03-213-1॥
O sinless one, I have described to you the varied lineages of the fires. Now, O descendant of Kuru, listen to the birth of the wise Kārttikeya. (03-213-1)
adbhutasya adbhutaṃ putraṃ pravakṣyāmyamitaujasam। jātaṃ saptarṣibhāryābhirbrahmaṇyaṃ kīrtivardhanam॥03-213-2॥
I shall describe the wonderful son of the wondrous one, who possesses boundless energy, was born from the wives of the seven ṛṣis, is devoted to Brahman, and increases fame. (03-213-2)
devāsurāḥ purā yattā viniġhnantaḥ parasparam। tatrājayansadā devāndānavā ghorarūpiṇaḥ ॥03-213-3॥
In former times the gods and asuras were engaged in mutual conflict. There, the danavas of terrible form always defeated the gods. (03-213-3)
vadhyamānaṃ balaṃ dṛṣṭvā bahuśastaiḥ puraṃdaraḥ। svasainyanāyakārthāya cintām āpa bhṛśaṃ tadā ॥03-213-4॥
Purandara, seeing his army being slain with many weapons, then became greatly anxious for the sake of his army's leader. (03-213-4)
devasenāṁ dānavairyo bhagnāṁ dṛṣṭvā mahābalaḥ। pālayedvīryamāśritya sa jñeyaḥ puruṣo mayā॥03-213-5॥
He who, having seen the army of the devas defeated by the dānavas, would, relying on strength, protect (it) — that one should be known by me as a true man. (03-213-5)
sa śailaṃ mānasaṃ gatvā dhyāyann artham imaṃ bhṛśam। śuśrāv ārta-svaraṃ ghoram atha muktaṃ striyā tadā ॥03-213-6॥
He went to Mount Mānasa and, while deeply meditating on this matter, then heard, at that moment, a terrible voice of distress uttered by a woman. (03-213-6)
abhidhāvatu mā kaścitpuruṣastrātu caiva ha. patiṁ ca me pradiśatu svayaṁ vā patirastu me ॥03-213-7॥
Let someone come to me, let some man indeed save me. And let someone give me a husband, or let a husband himself be mine. (03-213-7)
Puraṁdaras tu tām āha mā bhair nāsti bhayaṁ tava. evam uktvā tato 'paśyat keśinaṁ sthitam agrataḥ ॥03-213-8॥
But Indra said to her, "Do not be afraid; there is no danger for you." Having thus spoken, he then saw Keśin standing before him. (03-213-8)
kirīṭinaṃ gadāpāṇiṃ dhātumantam-iva-acalam। haste gṛhītvā tāṃ kanyām atha enaṃ vāsavo 'bravīt॥03-213-9॥
Wearing a crown and holding a mace, firm like a mountain rich in minerals, Vāsava (Indra), having taken that maiden by the hand, then spoke to him. (03-213-9)
anāryakarman kasmāt tvam imāṃ kanyāṃ jihīrṣasi। vajriṇaṃ māṃ vijānīhi virama asyāḥ prabādhanāt॥03-213-10॥
O you of unworthy deeds, why do you wish to take away this maiden? Know me to be the wielder of the thunderbolt. Cease harassing her. (03-213-10)
keśy uvāca॥
Keśyu said.
visṛjasva tvam eva enāṃ śakra eṣā prārthitā mayā। kṣamaṃ te jīvato gantuṃ svapuraṃ pākaśāsana ॥03-213-11॥
You yourself should release her, O Śakra; she has been requested by me. It is appropriate for you, while alive, to go to your own city, O Pākaśāsana. (03-213-11)
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Markandeya said.
evam uktvā gadāṃ keśī cikṣependra-vadhāya vai। tām āpatantīṃ ciccheda madhye vajreṇa vāsavaḥ ॥03-213-12॥
Thus having spoken, Keśī hurled the mace to slay Indra; Vāsava (Indra) cut that rushing mace in the middle with his thunderbolt. (03-213-12)
athāsya śailaśikharaṃ keśī kruddho vyavāsṛjat. tadāpatantaṃ samprekṣya śailaśṛṅgaṃ śatakratuḥ ॥ bibheda rājanvajreṇa bhuvi tannipapāta ha ॥03-213-13॥
Then, O king, Keśī, in anger, hurled his mountain peak; as that mountain summit came falling, Indra, the thousand-eyed, saw it and split it with his thunderbolt, so that it fell down to the ground. (03-213-13)
patatā tu tadā keśī tena śṛṅgeṇa tāḍitaḥ। hitvā kanyāṃ mahābhāgāṃ prādravadbhṛśapīḍitaḥ ॥03-213-14॥
But at that moment, Keśī, struck by that horn as he fell, left the highly fortunate maiden and ran away, greatly afflicted. (03-213-14)
apayāte'sure tasmiṁstāṁ kanyāṁ vāsavo'bravīt। kāsi kasyāsi kiṁ ceha kuruṣe tvaṁ śubhānane ॥03-213-15॥
When the asura had departed, at that time, Indra said to the maiden: "Who are you? Whose are you? What are you doing here, O beautiful-faced one?" (03-213-15)
kanyovāca॥
The maiden said.
ahaṃ prajāpateḥ kanyā devaseneti viśrutā। bhaginī daityasenā me sā pūrvaṃ keśinā hṛtā ॥03-213-16॥
I am the daughter of Prajāpati, well known as Devaseṇā. My sister Daityaseṇā—she was formerly taken away by Keśin. (03-213-16)
sahaivaāvāṃ bhaginyau tu sakhībhiḥ saha mānasam। āgacchāva iha raty-artham anujñāpya prajāpatim॥03-213-17॥
Let us two sisters, together with our friends, go to Lake Mānasā here for enjoyment, after seeking permission from Prajāpati. (03-213-17)
nityaṃ cāvāṃ prārthayate hartuṃ keśī mahāsuraḥ। icchatyenaṃ daityasenā na tvahaṃ pākaśāsana ॥03-213-18॥
Always, Keśī, the great asura, requests to seize both of us; the daitya army wants him, but not I, O Pākaśāsana (Indra). (03-213-18)
sā hṛtā tena bhagavan muktāhaṃ tvad-balena tu। tvayā devendra nirdiṣṭaṃ patim icchāmi durjayam ॥03-213-19॥
O venerable one, I, who was carried away by him, am now released by your power. O Indra, I wish for the husband appointed by you— the invincible one. (03-213-19)
indra uvāca॥
Indra said.
mama mātṛṣvaseyā tvaṃ mātā dākṣāyaṇī mama। ākhyātaṃ tv aham icchāmi svayam ātmabalaṃ tvayā॥03-213-20॥
You are my maternal cousin, my mother Dākṣāyaṇī. I wish you to declare your own strength yourself to me. (03-213-20)
kanyovāca॥
The maiden said.
abalāhaṁ mahābāho patistu balavān mama। varadānāt pitur bhāvī surāsura-namaskṛtaḥ ॥03-213-21॥
I am weak, O mighty-armed one, but my husband is strong. By my father's boon, he will be honored by gods and asuras. (03-213-21)
indra uvāca॥
Indra said.
kīdṛśaṁ vai balaṁ devi patyustava bhaviṣyati । etadicchāmi ahaṁ śrotuṁ tava vākyam anindite ॥03-213-22॥
O goddess, I wish to hear your statement, O blameless one: What kind of strength will your husband have? (03-213-22)
kanyovāca॥
The maiden said.
devadānavayakṣāṇāṃ kiṃnaraoragarakṣasām। jetā sa dṛṣṭo duṣṭānāṃ mahāvīryo mahābalaḥ ॥03-213-23॥
He, the conqueror of gods, demons, yakṣas, kiṃnaras, serpents, and rākṣasas, endowed with great energy and great strength, is seen among the wicked. (03-213-23)
yastu sarvāṇi bhūtāni tvayā saha vijeṣyati। sa hi me bhavitā bhartā brahmaṇyaḥ kīrtivardhanaḥ॥03-213-24॥
But he who will conquer all beings together with you, he indeed will be my husband, one devoted to Brahman, and an increaser of fame. (03-213-24)
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Mārkaṇḍeya said.
indras tasyā vacaḥ śrutvā duḥkhito'cintayad bhṛśam। asyā devyāḥ patir nāsti yādṛśaṃ samprabhāṣate ॥03-213-25॥
Indra, having heard her words, became deeply afflicted and thought intensely: "This lady seems to have no husband, judging by the way she speaks." (03-213-25)
athāpaśyat sa udaye bhāskaraṃ bhāskaradyutiḥ। somaṃ caiva mahābhāgaṃ viśamānaṃ divākaraṃ॥03-213-26॥
Then he saw at sunrise the brilliant sun, and the most fortunate moon as it was fading away, the sun. (03-213-26)
amāvāsyāṁ sampravṛttaṁ muhūrtaṁ raudrameva ca। devāsuraṁ ca saṅgrāmaṁ so'paśyadudaye girau ॥03-213-27॥
On the new moon day, he saw at sunrise on the mountain the fierce battle between the gods and asuras. (03-213-27)
lohitaiz ca ghnair yuktāṃ pūrvāṃ sandhyāṃ śatakratuḥ। apaśyad lohitodaṃ ca bhagavān varuṇālayam॥03-213-28॥
Śatakratu saw the eastern twilight covered with red clouds and also the blessed abode of Varuṇa, which had red waters. (03-213-28)
bhṛgubhiś cāṅgirobhiś ca hutaṃ mantraiḥ pṛthag-vidhaiḥ। havyaṃ gṛhītvā vahniṃ ca praviśantaṃ divākaram॥03-213-29॥
The Bhṛgus and the Aṅgiras, having performed the offerings with various mantras, take the oblations and fire and enter into the Sun. (03-213-29)
parva caiva caturviṃśaṃ tadā sūryamupasthitam। tathā dharmagataṃ raudraṃ somaṃ sūryagataṃ ca tam ॥03-213-30॥
And at the twenty-fourth junction, then the sun had arrived. Also, in the manner of dharma, in the manner of Rudra, Soma, and in the manner of the Sun, him. (03-213-30)
samālokyaikatāmeva śaśino bhāskarasya ca। samavāyaṃ tu taṃ raudraṃ dṛṣṭvā śakro vyacintayat ॥03-213-31॥
Śakra (Indra), having seen the dreadful combination—the unity of the Moon and Sun—reflected upon it. (03-213-31)
eṣa raudraś ca saṅghāto mahān yuktaś ca tejasā. somasya vahnisūryābhyām adbhuto'yaṃ samāgamaḥ ॥ janayed yaṃ sutaṃ somaḥ so'syā devyāḥ patir bhavet ॥03-213-32॥
This fierce and great union, endowed with brilliance, the wonderful coming together of Soma and Agni and Sūrya—whichever son Soma begets, he shall become the husband of this goddess. (03-213-32)
agniś caitair guṇair yuktaḥ sarvair agniś ca devatā | eṣa ced janayed garbhaṃ so 'syā devyāḥ patir bhavet ||03-213-33||
Agni, endowed with all these qualities, is indeed a divinity; if he generates offspring, he would become the husband of this goddess. (03-213-33)
evaṃ sañcintya bhagavān brahmalokaṃ tadā gataḥ। gṛhītvā devasenāṃ tām avandat sa pitāmaham ॥ uvāca cāsyā devyās tvaṃ sādhu śūraṃ patiṃ diśa ॥03-213-34॥
Having reflected in this way, the blessed one went to Brahma's world at that time. Taking Devasena with him, he reverently saluted the Grandfather (Brahma). And he said, "To this goddess, you should provide a worthy and valiant husband." (03-213-34)
brahmovāca॥
Brahmā said.
yathaitac cintitaṃ kāryaṃ tvayā dānavasūdana। tathā sa bhavitā garbho balavān uruvikramaḥ ॥03-213-35॥
O slayer of Dānavas, just as you have conceived this plan, so the offspring will be mighty, strong, and of vast power. (03-213-35)
sa bhaviṣyati senānīs tvayā saha śatakrato। asyā devyāḥ patiś caiva sa bhaviṣyati vīryavān ॥03-213-36॥
He will become the commander together with you, O Śatakratu; he will also be the husband of this goddess, and he will be powerful. (03-213-36)
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Markandeya said.
etat-śrutvā namas-tasmai kṛtvā asau saha kanyayā। tatra abhyagacchat devendraḥ yatra devaṛṣayaḥ abhavan॥ vasiṣṭha-pramukhā mukhyā viprendraḥ sumahā-vratāḥ॥03-213-37॥
Hearing this, he offered obeisance to him; then, together with the maiden, Indra went there where the divine sages were present—Vasiṣṭha and other foremost Brāhmaṇas, great in their vows. (03-213-37)
bhāgārthaṃ tapasopāttaṃ teṣāṃ somaṃ tathādhvare। pipāsavo yayur devāḥ śatakratupurogamāḥ ॥03-213-38॥
The gods, headed by Shatakratu (Indra), who were thirsty, went to the Soma acquired by their austerity in the sacrifice for their share. (03-213-38)
iṣṭiṁ kṛtvā yathā-nyāyaṁ susamiddhe hutāśane। juhuvus te mahātmāno havyaṁ sarva-divaukasām ॥03-213-39॥
The great-souled ones, having performed the sacrifice as prescribed, offered oblations in the well-kindled fire for all the dwellers of heaven. (03-213-39)
samāhūto hutavahaḥ so'dbhutaḥ sūryamaṇḍalāt। viniḥsṛtyāyayau vahnirvāgyato vidhivatprabhuḥ ॥ āgamyāhavanīyaṃ vai tairdvijairmantrato hutam ॥03-213-40॥
Summoned, the wonderful Fire emerged from the solar disc; the lordly Fire, invoked by speech and duly, came forth. Having arrived at the ahavaniya altar, he was offered oblations with mantras by those Brahmins. (03-213-40)
sa tatra vividhaṃ havyaṃ pratigṛhya hutāśanaḥ। ṛṣibhyo bharataśreṣṭha prāyacchata divaukasām ॥03-213-41॥
Having received the various oblations there, Agni (the fire), O best of the Bharatas, offered them to the gods on behalf of the sages. (03-213-41)
niṣkrāmaṃścāpyapaśyatsa patnīsteṣāṃ mahātmanām। sveṣvāśrameṣūpaviṣṭāḥ snāyantīśca yathāsukham ॥03-213-42॥
Going out, he also saw the wives of those great-souled men, seated in their own hermitages and bathing at their ease. (03-213-42)
rukmavedinibhāstāstu candralekhā ivāmalāḥ। hutāśanārcipratimāḥ sarvāstāra ivādbhutāḥ ॥03-213-43॥
They shone with the radiance of a golden altar, immaculate like moonbeams, resembling the flames of the sacred fire, and were all as wonderful as stars. (03-213-43)
sa tad-gatena manasā babhūva kṣubhitendriyaḥ। patnīḥ dṛṣṭvā dvijendrāṇāṃ vahniḥ kāmavaśaṃ yayau॥03-213-44॥
With his mind absorbed there, he became agitated in his senses. Seeing the wives of the foremost twice-born, Agni fell under the sway of desire. (03-213-44)
sa bhūyaś cintayāmāsa na nyāyyaṁ kṣubhito'smi yat. sādhvīḥ patnīr dvijendrāṇām akāmāḥ kāmayāmy aham ॥03-213-45॥
He thought again, "It is not right; I am disturbed because I desire the virtuous wives of the best of the twice-born, though they do not desire me." (03-213-45)
naitāḥ śakyā mayā draṣṭuṃ spraṣṭuṃ vāpyanimittataḥ। gārhapatyaṃ samāviśya tasmāt paśyāmyabhīkṣṇaśaḥ ॥03-213-46॥
These are not possible for me to see or to touch even without cause. Therefore, after entering the gārhapatya sacred fire, I see (them) again and again. (03-213-46)
saṁspṛśann iva sarvāḥ tāḥ śikhābhiḥ kāñcanaprabhāḥ। paśyamānaś ca mumude gārhapatyaṁ samāśritaḥ॥03-213-47॥
As if touching all those (sacrificial fires) with flames of golden radiance, and seeing (them), he rejoiced, having approached the gārhapatya fire. (03-213-47)
niruṣya tatra suciram evaṃ vahnir vaśaṃ gataḥ। manas tāsu vinikṣipya kāmayānaḥ varāṅganāḥ ॥03-213-48॥
After listening there for a long time, the fire came under control. Desiring, he fixed his mind on those beautiful women. (03-213-48)
kāmasantaptahṛdayo dehatyāge suniścitaḥ. alābhe brāhmaṇastrīṇām agnir vanam upāgataḥ ॥03-213-49॥
Tormented by desire and firmly determined to give up his body, Agni, finding no Brāhmaṇa women, went into the forest. (03-213-49)
svāhā taṁ dakṣaduhitā prathamaṁ kāmayattadā। sā tasya chidramanvaicchaccirātprabhṛti bhāminī॥ apramattasya devasya na cāpaśyadaninditā॥03-213-50॥
Svāhā, Dakṣa's daughter, at first desired him. That shining woman sought for his weakness for a long time, but the blameless woman did not find any fault in the vigilant god. (03-213-50)
sā taṁ jñātvā yathāvat tu vahniṁ vanam upāgatam। tattvataḥ kāmasantaptaṁ cintayāmāsa bhāminī ॥03-213-51॥
The radiant lady, knowing him to be truly afflicted by desire and having gone into the forest like fire, began to ponder upon him. (03-213-51)
ahaṃ saptarṣipatnīnām kṛtvā rūpāṇi pāvakam। kāmayiṣyāmi kāmārtaṃ tāsāṃ rūpeṇa mohitam॥ evaṃ kṛte prītirasya kāmāvāptiśca me bhavet॥03-213-52॥
I will assume the forms of the wives of the seven sages, and as Agni, I will desire the one troubled by desire and deluded by their beauty. In this way, when this is done, his affection and my attainment of the desired aim may occur. (03-213-52)
