03.215
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Markandeya said.
ṛṣayas tu mahāghorān dṛṣṭvotpātān pṛthag-vidhān। akurvañ śāntim udvignā lokānāṃ loka-bhāvanāḥ॥03-215-1॥
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)
nivasanti vane ye tu tasmiñcaitrarathe janāḥ। te'bruvanneṣa no'narthaḥ pāvakenāhṛto mahān॥ saṅgamya ṣaḍbhiḥ patnībhiḥ saptarṣīṇāmiti sma ha॥03-215-2॥
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)
apare garuḍīm āhus tvayā anartho'ayam āhṛtaḥ। yair dṛṣṭā sā tadā devī tasyā rūpeṇa gacchatī॥ na tu tat-svāhayā karma kṛtaṃ jānāti vai janaḥ॥03-215-3॥
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)
suparṇī tu vacaḥ śrutvā mamāyaṃ tanayastviti। upagamya śanaiḥ skandamāhāhaṃ jananī tava ॥03-215-4॥
But Suparṇī, having heard the words "this is my son," slowly approached Skanda and said, "I am your mother." (03-215-4)
atha saptarṣayaḥ śrutvā jātaṃ putraṃ mahaujasam। tatyajuḥ ṣaṭ tadā patnīr vinā devī marundhatīm॥03-215-5॥
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)
ṣaḍbhir-eva tadā jātam-āhus-tad-vanavāsinaḥ। saptarṣīn-āha ca svāhā mama putro’yam-ity-uta ॥ ahaṃ jāne naitad-evam-iti rājan-punaḥ punaḥ ॥03-215-6॥
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)
viśvāmitras tu kṛtveṣṭiṃ saptarṣīṇāṃ mahāmuniḥ। pāvakaṃ kāma-santaptam adṛṣṭaḥ pṛṣṭhato'nvagāt॥ tat tena nikhilaṃ sarvam avabuddhaṃ yathā tatham॥03-215-7॥
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)
viśvāmitras tu prathamaṃ kumāraṃ śaraṇaṃ gataḥ। stavaṃ divyaṃ sampracakre mahāsenasya cāpi saḥ॥03-215-8॥
But Viśvāmitra first took refuge in Kumāra; he also composed a divine hymn in praise of Mahāsena. (03-215-8)
maṅgalāni ca sarvāṇi kaumārāṇi trayodaśa। jātakarmādikās tasya kriyāś cakre mahāmuniḥ॥03-215-9॥
The great sage performed for him all thirteen auspicious childhood rites, beginning with the birth ceremony. (03-215-9)
ṣaḍvaktrasya tu māhātmyaṃ kukkuṭasya ca sādhanam। śaktyā devyāḥ sādhanaṃ ca tathā pāriṣadām api॥03-215-10॥
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)
viśvāmitraś cakāraitat karma lokahitāya vai। tasmād ṛṣiḥ kumārasya viśvāmitro'bhavat priyaḥ॥03-215-11॥
Viśvāmitra performed this deed for the benefit of the world, and so the sage Viśvāmitra became dear to the boy. (03-215-11)
anvajānācca svāhāyā rūpānyatvaṃ mahāmuniḥ। abravīcca munīnsarvānnāparādhyanti vai striyaḥ॥ śrutvā tu tattvatastasmātte patnīḥ sarvato'tyajan॥03-215-12॥
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)
skandaṃ śrutvā tato devā vāsavaṃ sahitābruvan। aviṣahya-balaṃ skandaṃ jahi śakrāśu mā-ciram ॥03-215-13॥
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)
yadi vā na nihansyenam adya indro 'yaṃ bhaviṣyati। trailokyaṃ saṃnigṛhyāsmāṃs tvāṃ ca śakra mahābalaḥ॥03-215-14॥
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)
sa tān uvāca vyathito bālo'yaṃ sumahābalaḥ। sraṣṭāram api lokānāṃ yudhi vikramya nāśayet ॥03-215-15॥
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)
sarvāstvadya abhigacchantu skandaṁ lokasya mātaraḥ। kāma-vīryā ghnantu ca enaṁ tathetyuktvā ca tā yayuḥ॥03-215-16॥
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)
tamapratibalaṁ dṛṣṭvā viṣaṇṇavadanāstu tāḥ। aśakyo'yaṁ vicintyaivaṁ tameva śaraṇaṁ yayuḥ॥03-215-17॥
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)
ūcuś cāpi tvam asmākaṃ putro 'smābhir dhṛtaṃ jagat। abhinandasva naḥ sarvāḥ prasnutāḥ snehaviklavāḥ ॥03-215-18॥
"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)
tāḥ sampūjya mahāsenaḥ kāmāṁś cāsāṁ pradāya saḥ। apaśyad agnim āyāntam pitaraṁ balināṁ balī॥03-215-19॥
After worshipping them and granting them their desires, Mahāsena saw his father Agni, the most powerful among the powerful, approaching. (03-215-19)
sa tu sampūjitastena saha mātṛgaṇena ha। parivārya mahāsenaṃ rakṣamāṇaḥ sthitaḥ sthiram ॥03-215-20॥
But he, having been honored by him together with the group of mothers, indeed stood firmly, surrounding and protecting Mahāsena. (03-215-20)
sarvāsāṁ yā tu mātṝṇāṁ nārī krodhasamudbhavā। dhātrī sā putravat skandaṁ śūlahastābhyarakṣata॥03-215-21॥
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)
lohitasya udadheḥ kanyā krūrā lohitabhojanā। pariṣvajya mahāsenaṃ putravat paryarakṣata ॥03-215-22॥
The cruel blood-eating daughter of Lohita, the ocean, embraced Mahāsena and protected him as if he were her own son. (03-215-22)
agnirbhūtvā naigameyaśchāgavaktro bahuprajaḥ। ramayāmāsa śailasthaṃ bālaṃ krīḍanakairiva॥03-215-23॥
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)
