03.214
Markandeya said.
The auspicious wife of Tvaṅgira, endowed with character, beauty, and virtues. She, taking on her first form, the goddess, for the king, went near Agni and the splendid woman spoke to him. (03-214-1)
O Agni, you should desire me who am tormented by desire; if you do not do so, then bear me away as dead. (03-214-2)
O Fire, I am Śivā, the wife of Aṅgiras by name, who, together with friends, after consultation, have arrived at a decision. (03-214-3)
Agni said.
How do you consider me, who am afflicted by desire? How about the others? All those women, beloved of the seven sages, whom you have mentioned.
Śiva said.
You are always dear to us, but we fear you. Having understood your mind by its gestures, I have been sent close to you. (03-214-5)
I have come here for union, my desire is fulfilled, act quickly. My mothers are waiting for me; I shall go, O Agni. (03-214-6)
Mārkaṇḍeya said.
Then Agni, filled with joy, approached her, the auspicious Goddess. With affection, the Goddess united with him and received the semen in her hand. (03-214-7)
Reflecting, those who see this form of mine in the forest will declare the false charge against the wives of brāhmaṇas at the (sacred) fire. (03-214-8)
Therefore, as a Garudi protecting this, I will make myself manifest; and from the forest, going out will indeed be happiness for me. (03-214-9)
Then, having assumed the form of a winged one, she departed from the great forest. She saw a white mountain well-covered with arrow-pillars. (03-214-10)
It was protected by marvelous serpents possessing sight and poison, with seven heads; as well as by rākṣasas, piśācas, fierce spirits, and rākṣasīs, and was completely filled by many kinds of beasts and birds. (03-214-11)
She, hurried and chaste, suddenly went there to the mountain top which was very difficult to access, and cast the semen into a golden vessel. (03-214-12)
Even of the virtuous, she, the goddess of the great-souled seven sages, assuming the form of their wives, desired Agni. (03-214-13)
Even for Arundhati, it was not possible to attain a divine form; it was by the power of her austerity and her service to her husband (that she accomplished it). (03-214-14)
O best of the Kurus, that semen was placed in the fire six times. Then, on each day, in that firepit, the longing woman offered it with the 'svāhā' mantra. (03-214-15)
That which was spilled by the energy was there collected and produced a son. The sages honored it, and the spilled substance was then made to become Skanda. (03-214-16)
The boy became six-headed, with double ears, twelve eyes, a succession of arms; yet with one neck and one body. (03-214-17)
Guha was manifested on the second day; on the third day, the child became radiant; with his limbs and sub-limbs formed, on the fourth day, Guha came into being. (03-214-18)
Covered by a great red cloud accompanied by lightning, he shines in the immense red cloud like the rising sun. (03-214-19)
The very great and fearsome bow, once wielded and then laid down by the destroyer of Tripura, who vanquishes the enemies of the gods, was taken by him. (03-214-20)
Having seized that excellent bow, the powerful one then roared, as if bewildering these three worlds along with all moving and unmoving beings. (03-214-21)
Hearing his roar, which sounded like a great mass of clouds, the two great elephants, Citra and Airāvata, leapt up. (03-214-22)
Seeing those two charging at him, he—resplendent like the rising sun—grasped the spear with both hands; with another hand and with yet another arm, the descendant of Agni seized the one with the coppery crest. (03-214-23)
The very mighty one, having seized the great-bodied cock who was the best among the strong, embraced it, uttered a terrible sound, and then played. (03-214-24)
The strong man, using both arms, seized the excellent conch and blew it, frightening all beings, even the powerful ones. (03-214-25)
With his two arms he struck the sky repeatedly; playing, Mahasena shines, as if drinking the three worlds with his mouths, like the radiant one of immeasurable nature (the Sun) at his rising on the mountain peak. (03-214-26)
He, possessing wondrous valor, sat atop that mountain; that one with immeasurable self beheld the directions with various faces. Seeing those diverse states, he let out a roar once more. (03-214-27)
Hearing his loud roar, the people collapsed in many ways; frightened and anxious at heart, they went to him alone for refuge. (03-214-28)
But those people of various classes, who at that time took refuge in that god, are also called by the Brāhmaṇas the powerful attendants. (03-214-29)
Having risen, the mighty-armed one soothed those people, and drawing his bow, released arrows at the white great mountain. (03-214-30)
He split the mountain Krauncha, the son of Himavat, with arrows; as a result, swans and vultures go to Mount Meru. (03-214-31)
As he was shattered, the rock fell, howling violently with cries of pain. When he had fallen, the other rocks roared loudly out of great fear. (03-214-32)
He, the chief among the strong, having heard that cry of those who were greatly anguished, was not agitated; his mind was immeasurable. Lifting up his spear, he roared. (03-214-33)
At that time, that great force, hurled by the great-souled one, split the terrible peak of Mount Śveta with its strength. (03-214-34)
The white mountain, struck and afflicted by him, together with other mountains, leaped up from the earth in fear of that great-souled one. (03-214-35)
Then, when the earth was agitated and shattered on all sides, she, distressed, went to Skanda, and became powerful again and shone. (03-214-36)
The mountains, having bowed to him, went back to the earth. Then, on the fifth day of the bright fortnight, this world worshipped Skanda. (03-214-37)
