03.217
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Mārkaṇḍeya said.
skandasya pārṣadān ghorān śṛṇuṣva adbhuta-darśanān। vajra-prahārāt skandasya jajñus tatra kumārakāḥ॥ ye haranti śiśūn jātān garbha-sthānś caiva dāruṇāḥ॥03-217-1॥
Listen: the dreadful attendants of Skanda, of marvelous appearance—when Skanda was struck by the vajra, boys were born there. These fierce beings take away newborn infants and even those yet in the womb. (03-217-1)
vajraprahārāt kanyāś ca jajñire'sya mahābalāḥ। kumārāś ca viśākhaṃ taṃ pitṛtve samakalpayan ॥03-217-2॥
Maidens of great might were born from the blow of the vajra, and the boys appointed Viśākha as their father. (03-217-2)
sa bhūtvā bhagavān saṅkhye rakṣaṁś chāgamukhas tadā। vṛtaḥ kanyā-gaṇaiḥ sarvaiḥ ātmanīnaiś ca putrakaiḥ॥03-217-3॥
Then, the Lord, having assumed the form of one with a goat's face, while protecting in the battle, was surrounded by all groups of girls and his own sons. (03-217-3)
mātṝṇāṃ prekṣatīnāṃ ca bhadraśākhaś ca kauśalaḥ। tataḥ kumārapitaraṃ skandam āhur janā bhuvi॥03-217-4॥
Among mothers, gazers, as well as Bhadraśākha and Kauśala, therefore, people on earth called Skanda the father of Kumāra. (03-217-4)
rudramagnimumāṃ svāhāṃ pradeśeṣu mahābalām। yajanti putrakāmāś ca putriṇaś ca sadā janāḥ॥03-217-5॥
People desiring sons and those who have children always worship Rudra, Agni, Umā, and Svāhā—beings of great strength—in various regions. (03-217-5)
yās tās tv ajanayat kanyās tapo nāma hutāśanaḥ। kiṃ karomīti tāḥ skandaṃ samprāptāḥ samabhāṣata ॥03-217-6॥
The maidens whom Fire, called Penance, produced—those maidens, wondering 'What should I do?', approached Skanda and spoke to him. (03-217-6)
mātar ūcuḥ॥
The mothers said;
bhavema sarvalokasya vayaṃ mātara uttamāḥ। prasādāttava pūjyāśca priyam etat kuruṣva naḥ ॥03-217-7॥
Let us become the noble mothers of all worlds; by your grace, make us worthy of honor and affection. (03-217-7)
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Markandeya said.
so'bravīdbāḍhamityevaṃ bhaviṣyadhvaṃ pṛthagvidhāḥ। aśivāśca śivāścaiva punaḥ punarudāradhīḥ ॥03-217-8॥
He said, 'So be it. In this way, you shall become of various kinds, both inauspicious and auspicious, again and again,' said the noble-minded one. (03-217-8)
tataḥ saṅkalpya putratve skaṁdaṁ mātṛgaṇo'gamata. kākī ca halimā caiva rudrātha bṛhalī tathā ॥ āryā palālā vai mitrā sapta etāḥ śiśumātaraḥ ॥03-217-9॥
Then, after resolving to make Skanda their son, the group of mothers approached him. Kaki, Halima, Rudra, Brihali, Arya, Palala, and Mitra—these seven are the mothers of the child. (03-217-9)
etāsāṃ vīryasampannaḥ śiśur nāmātidāruṇaḥ। skandaprasādajaḥ putro lohitākṣo bhayaṅkaraḥ॥03-217-10॥
Among these, a vigorous child named Atidāruṇa was born, the son Lohitākṣa—red-eyed and terrifying—through the grace of Skanda. (03-217-10)
eṣa vīrāṣṭakaḥ proktaḥ skandamātṛ-gaṇodbhavaḥ। chāgavaktreṇa sahito navakaḥ parikīrtyate ॥03-217-11॥
This eightfold group of heroes arising from the band of Skanda’s mothers has been described; along with Chāgavaktrā, the ninth is mentioned. (03-217-11)
ṣaṣṭhaṃ chāgamayaṃ vaktraṃ skandasyaiva iti viddhi tat। ṣaṭśiro’bhyantaraṃ rājannityaṃ mātṛgaṇārcitam ॥03-217-12॥
Know that the sixth, goat-faced head belongs to Skanda alone; O King, this six-headed inner form is always worshipped by the company of Mothers. (03-217-12)
ṣaṇṇāṃ tu pravaraṃ tasya śīrṣāṇāmiha śabdyate। śaktiṃ yenāsṛjaddivyāṃ bhadraśākha iti sma ha॥03-217-13॥
But among his six heads, the best here is called that (head) by which he created the divine power (Śakti) called Bhadraśākha, thus indeed (is said). (03-217-13)
ity etad vividha-ākāraṃ vṛttaṃ śuklasya pañcamīm। tatra yuddhaṃ mahāghoraṃ vṛttaṃ ṣaṣṭhyāṃ janādhipa ॥03-217-14॥
Thus, this varied event took place on the fifth day of the bright fortnight. There, the extremely fierce battle occurred on the sixth, O king. (03-217-14)
