03.213
Markandeya said.
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)
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)
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)
Purandara, seeing his army being slain with many weapons, then became greatly anxious for the sake of his army's leader. (03-213-4)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Keśyu said.
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)
Markandeya said.
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)
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)
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)
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)
The maiden said.
I am the daughter of Prajāpati, well known as Devaseṇā. My sister Daityaseṇā—she was formerly taken away by Keśin. (03-213-16)
Let us two sisters, together with our friends, go to Lake Mānasā here for enjoyment, after seeking permission from Prajāpati. (03-213-17)
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)
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 said.
You are my maternal cousin, my mother Dākṣāyaṇī. I wish you to declare your own strength yourself to me. (03-213-20)
The maiden said.
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 said.
O goddess, I wish to hear your statement, O blameless one: What kind of strength will your husband have? (03-213-22)
The maiden said.
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)
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 said.
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)
Then he saw at sunrise the brilliant sun, and the most fortunate moon as it was fading away, the sun. (03-213-26)
On the new moon day, he saw at sunrise on the mountain the fierce battle between the gods and asuras. (03-213-27)
Śatakratu saw the eastern twilight covered with red clouds and also the blessed abode of Varuṇa, which had red waters. (03-213-28)
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)
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)
Śakra (Indra), having seen the dreadful combination—the unity of the Moon and Sun—reflected upon it. (03-213-31)
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)
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)
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)
Brahmā said.
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)
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)
Markandeya said.
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
After listening there for a long time, the fire came under control. Desiring, he fixed his mind on those beautiful women. (03-213-48)
Tormented by desire and firmly determined to give up his body, Agni, finding no Brāhmaṇa women, went into the forest. (03-213-49)
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)
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)
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)
