03.215
मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥
Markandeya said.
ऋषयस्तु महाघोरान्दृष्ट्वोत्पातान्पृथग्विधान्। अकुर्वञ्शान्तिमुद्विग्ना लोकानां लोकभावनाः ॥०३-२१५-१॥
But the sages, the protectors of the worlds, having seen very terrible omens of various kinds, being disturbed, performed a peace-rite for the worlds. (03-215-1)
निवसन्ति वने ये तु तस्मिंश्चैत्ररथे जनाः। तेऽब्रुवन्नेष नोऽनर्थः पावकेनाहृतो महान् ॥ सङ्गम्य षड्भिः पत्नीभिः सप्तर्षीणामिति स्म ह ॥०३-२१५-२॥
Those people who lived in the Caitraratha forest said, "This great misfortune has befallen us due to the fire, as a result of meeting the six wives of the seven sages," thus indeed. (03-215-2)
अपरे गरुडीमाहुस्त्वयानर्थोऽयमाहृतः। यैर्दृष्टा सा तदा देवी तस्या रूपेण गच्छती ॥ न तु तत्स्वाहया कर्म कृतं जानाति वै जनः ॥०३-२१५-३॥
Others say, 'O Garuḍī, this misfortune has been brought by you. Whomever the goddess was seen by at that time, she goes in their form. But no person truly knows that an act done with the invocation 'svāhā' has that effect.' (03-215-3)
सुपर्णी तु वचः श्रुत्वा ममायं तनयस्त्विति। उपगम्य शनैः स्कन्दमाहाहं जननी तव ॥०३-२१५-४॥
But Suparṇī, having heard the words "this is my son," slowly approached Skanda and said, "I am your mother." (03-215-4)
अथ सप्तर्षयः श्रुत्वा जातं पुत्रं महौजसम्। तत्यजुः षट्तदा पत्नीर्विना देवीमरुन्धतीम् ॥०३-२१५-५॥
Then the seven sages, having heard that a son of great energy was born, at that time six of them abandoned their wives, except for the goddess Arundhatī. (03-215-5)
षड्भिरेव तदा जातमाहुस्तद्वनवासिनः। सप्तर्षीनाह च स्वाहा मम पुत्रोऽयमित्युत ॥ अहं जाने नैतदेवमिति राजन्पुनः पुनः ॥०३-२१५-६॥
The forest dwellers said that he was born from six only at that time. The seven sages also, and Svaha herself, said, "This is my son." But I know this is not so, O king, again and again. (03-215-6)
विश्वामित्रस्तु कृत्वेष्टिं सप्तर्षीणां महामुनिः। पावकं कामसन्तप्तमदृष्टः पृष्ठतोऽन्वगात् ॥ तत्तेन निखिलं सर्वमवबुद्धं यथातथम् ॥०३-२१५-७॥
But Viśvāmitra, having completed the sacrifice for the Seven Sages, the great sage, followed Pāvaka, who was consumed by desire, unseen, from behind. By him, all was fully understood just as it was. (03-215-7)
विश्वामित्रस्तु प्रथमं कुमारं शरणं गतः। स्तवं दिव्यं सम्प्रचक्रे महासेनस्य चापि सः ॥०३-२१५-८॥
But Viśvāmitra first took refuge in Kumāra; he also composed a divine hymn in praise of Mahāsena. (03-215-8)
मङ्गलानि च सर्वाणि कौमाराणि त्रयोदश। जातकर्मादिकास्तस्य क्रियाश्चक्रे महामुनिः ॥०३-२१५-९॥
The great sage performed for him all thirteen auspicious childhood rites, beginning with the birth ceremony. (03-215-9)
षड्वक्त्रस्य तु माहात्म्यं कुक्कुटस्य च साधनम्। शक्त्या देव्याः साधनं च तथा पारिषदामपि ॥०३-२१५-१०॥
But the greatness of Ṣaḍvaktra and the means of the cock; the means of the goddess by the Śakti, as well as those of the attendants also. (03-215-10)
विश्वामित्रश्चकारैतत्कर्म लोकहिताय वै। तस्मादृषिः कुमारस्य विश्वामित्रोऽभवत्प्रियः ॥०३-२१५-११॥
Viśvāmitra performed this deed for the benefit of the world, and so the sage Viśvāmitra became dear to the boy. (03-215-11)
अन्वजानाच्च स्वाहाया रूपान्यत्वं महामुनिः। अब्रवीच्च मुनीन्सर्वान्नापराध्यन्ति वै स्त्रियः ॥ श्रुत्वा तु तत्त्वतस्तस्मात्ते पत्नीः सर्वतोऽत्यजन् ॥०३-२१५-१२॥
The great sage, having discerned the difference in Svāhā's form, said to all the sages, "Women indeed do not commit offense." After truly hearing this, therefore, they all completely abandoned their wives. (03-215-12)
स्कन्दं श्रुत्वा ततो देवा वासवं सहिताब्रुवन्। अविषह्यबलं स्कन्दं जहि शक्राशु माचिरम् ॥०३-२१५-१३॥
When the gods heard about Skanda, they all addressed Vāsava (Indra) together: "O Śakra, kill Skanda, who is of irresistible strength, quickly—do not delay." (03-215-13)
यदि वा न निहंस्येनमद्येन्द्रोऽयं भविष्यति। त्रैलोक्यं संनिगृह्यास्मांस्त्वां च शक्र महाबलः ॥०३-२१५-१४॥
If Indra does not kill this one today, he, having subdued the three worlds, us and you as well, O Śakra of great strength, will become (the ruling Indra). (03-215-14)
स तानुवाच व्यथितो बालोऽयं सुमहाबलः। स्रष्टारमपि लोकानां युधि विक्रम्य नाशयेत् ॥०३-२१५-१५॥
He spoke to them with anxiety: This boy is extremely powerful; he could destroy even the creator of the worlds after vanquishing him in battle. (03-215-15)
सर्वास्त्वद्याभिगच्छन्तु स्कन्दं लोकस्य मातरः। कामवीर्या घ्नन्तु चैनं तथेत्युक्त्वा च ता ययुः ॥०३-२१५-१६॥
All the mothers of the world today may approach Skanda; the powers of desire may strike him, and having thus said, they departed. (03-215-16)
तमप्रतिबलं दृष्ट्वा विषण्णवदनास्तु ताः। अशक्योऽयं विचिन्त्यैवं तमेव शरणं ययुः ॥०३-२१५-१७॥
Seeing him unmatched in strength, those women, their faces despondent, after considering that he could not be overcome, went to him alone for refuge. (03-215-17)
ऊचुश्चापि त्वमस्माकं पुत्रोऽस्माभिर्धृतं जगत्। अभिनन्दस्व नः सर्वाः प्रस्नुताः स्नेहविक्लवाः ॥०३-२१५-१८॥
"They said: 'You, too, are our son; the world is supported by us. Please accept all of us, overwhelmed and overflowing with affection.'" (03-215-18)
ताः सम्पूज्य महासेनः कामांश्चासां प्रदाय सः। अपश्यदग्निमायान्तं पितरं बलिनां बली ॥०३-२१५-१९॥
After worshipping them and granting them their desires, Mahāsena saw his father Agni, the most powerful among the powerful, approaching. (03-215-19)
स तु सम्पूजितस्तेन सह मातृगणेन ह। परिवार्य महासेनं रक्षमाणः स्थितः स्थिरम् ॥०३-२१५-२०॥
But he, having been honored by him together with the group of mothers, indeed stood firmly, surrounding and protecting Mahāsena. (03-215-20)
सर्वासां या तु मातॄणां नारी क्रोधसमुद्भवा। धात्री सा पुत्रवत्स्कन्दं शूलहस्ताभ्यरक्षत ॥०३-२१५-२१॥
Of all the mothers, the woman who was born from their anger, that nurse, holding a spear in her hand, protected Skanda as if he were her own son. (03-215-21)
लोहितस्योदधेः कन्या क्रूरा लोहितभोजना। परिष्वज्य महासेनं पुत्रवत्पर्यरक्षत ॥०३-२१५-२२॥
The cruel blood-eating daughter of Lohita, the ocean, embraced Mahāsena and protected him as if he were her own son. (03-215-22)
अग्निर्भूत्वा नैगमेयश्छागवक्त्रो बहुप्रजः। रमयामास शैलस्थं बालं क्रीडनकैरिव ॥०३-२१५-२३॥
Agni, having assumed the form of Naigameya, goat-faced and with many offspring, amused the boy dwelling on the mountain with playthings, as if playing with a child. (03-215-23)
