03.219
Markandeya said;
Adorned with beauty, Mahasena, made the commander of the gods' army, was approached then by the wives of the seven Ṛṣis, the six goddesses. (03-219-1)
Having been completely abandoned by the sages, those great observers of vows endowed with righteousness quickly came and spoke to the lord, the commander of the divine army. (03-219-2)
We, dear son, have been abandoned by our husbands, who were as gods, and, without any reason, have fallen from the virtuous place due to their anger. (03-219-3)
Someone has indeed said 'you are born of us.' This is untrue; therefore, having heard it, you ought to protect us. (03-219-4)
O lord, may heaven be eternal for us, indeed by your grace. We also desire you as a son; having done this, be free from (any) debt. (03-219-5)
Skanda said;
Indeed, you are mothers to me, O blameless ones, and I am your son. Whatever you desire, all of that will come to pass for you just so. (03-219-6)
Mārkaṇḍeya said.
Thus, when those words were spoken, then Śakra (Indra) said, "What should be done?" Addressed by Skanda, "Speak," so then Vāsava (Indra) replied. (03-219-7)
But Abhijit, the younger sister of Rohiṇī, in competition and wishing to become eldest, the goddess went to the forest to perform penance. (03-219-8)
I am bewildered there—may well-being be to you; the star has fallen from the sky. Skanda, together with Brahmā, consider this supreme time. (03-219-9)
At that time, Brahmā completely established the period beginning with Dhaniṣṭhā. Before that, enumeration began with Rohiṇī in the same way. (03-219-10)
After Śakra had thus spoken, the Kṛttikās went to heaven. That cart-shaped constellation shines and its deity is Agni. (03-219-11)
And Vinata said to Skanda, "You are my son, the giver of piṇḍa (offerings). I always wish to sit with you, O son." (03-219-12)
Skanda said.
Let it be so. My salutations to you; because of affection for your son, direct me. O lady, being continually worshipped by your daughter-in-law, you will always reside here. (03-219-13)
Mārkaṇḍeya said.
Then the entire host of mothers spoke to Skanda, saying: "We, the mothers of all the world, praised by poets, desire to become your mothers; honor us." (03-219-14)
Skanda said;
But mothers, you are mine, and I am your son; let it be stated, what should be done by me which is then desired by you. (03-219-15)
The mothers said;
But the place which was formerly assigned in this world to those mothers—that should become ours, and not theirs. (03-219-16)
O best of gods, let us become honored among people, not they. Our children were taken away by them for your sake; return them to us. (03-219-17)
Skanda said.
The offspring already given cannot be enjoyed by you. I shall give you another offspring, whichever you desire in your mind. (03-219-18)
The mother said.
We desire to enjoy the offspring of those mothers; grant them to us. Together with you, those who are separated, as well as the lords of those mothers. (03-219-19)
Skanda said;
I entrust the subjects to you; the distress has, however, been cited by you. May you protect the welfare of your subjects who have been properly saluted. (03-219-20)
The mothers said.
Let us protect your good subjects, O Skanda, as you desire. O lord Skanda, long association with you is not pleasing to us. (03-219-21)
Skanda said.
For as long as sixteen years last, the young people are, and they torment human beings during that time with various kinds of forms. (03-219-22)
I will also give you my fierce, imperishable, supreme self; united with that, you will reside in happiness, honored. (03-219-23)
Markandeya said.
Then, from Skanda’s body, a man of golden radiance and great strength descended to consume the creatures of mortals. (03-219-24)
He then fell to the ground, unconscious and overwhelmed by hunger. Permitted by Skanda, he assumed a fierce form and became a graha (spirit). The best of Brāhmaṇas call that graha 'Skanda-apasmāra.' (03-219-25)
Vinatā, who is very fierce, is described as the affliction caused by birds. The demoness Pūtanā is known as Pūtanā-possession. (03-219-26)
Difficult and terrible in form, the dreadful night-wanderer. The female demon with a fierce shape is called Śītapūtanā. She, terrible in appearance, takes away the fetuses of women. (03-219-27)
They call the Revati (nakṣatra) as Aditi; its planet is Raivata. That great, terrible planet also afflicts children and infants. (03-219-28)
Diti, who is the mother of the demons, they call her 'mukhamaṇḍikā'. She is exceedingly delighted with the flesh of children and is hard to approach. (03-219-29)
O Kauravya, the boys and girls who are said to be born from Skanda, they too, all being womb-born, are very powerful seizing beings. (03-219-30)
It is those very maidens whose husbands are declared; and, unrecognized, men of cruel actions take away children. (03-219-31)
O king, the cow named Surabhi, called the mother of cows by the wise, is mounted by a bird, which then eats the calves on the earth together with her. (03-219-32)
O lord of men, Sarama by name, the goddess and mother of dogs, indeed always takes up the offspring of women. (03-219-33)
She who is the mother of trees and dwells in the karanja tree—men desiring sons worship her in the karanja tree; therefore.
These eighteen other planetary beings, who are fond of meat and honey, indeed constantly remain in the birthing house for seven nights. (03-219-35)
When Kadru had become of subtle form and entered the pregnant woman, she ate the embryo there; then she gave birth to a nāga. (03-219-36)
But the mother of the Gandharvas, having conceived the embryo and then lost it, thereafter appears as a human woman on earth. (03-219-37)
The one who, having received the embryo of the Apsarases, remains—her, when seated, the wise then call (the) embryo. (03-219-38)
The daughter of Lohita, the ocean, who is considered the nurse of Skanda, is known as Lohitāyani; thus, she is indeed worshipped at Kadamba. (03-219-39)
Just as Rudra stands among men, so also among women does the noble lady. The noble mother of the boy is sought apart for the sake of desire. (03-219-40)
In this way, I have described to you the great afflictions affecting boys. For sixteen years, they are inauspicious; after that, they become auspicious. (03-219-41)
Those who are called mother-goddess groups and those male grahas mentioned— all these are known by the name Skanda-grahas and should always be recognized as such by embodied beings. (03-219-42)
Their pacification should be accomplished by bathing, incense, anointing, offering of oblations and gifts, and especially the worship of Skanda. (03-219-43)
Thus, O king, all these, when properly worshipped and revered, bestow good fortune, life, and energy upon people. (03-219-44)
But after the sixteenth year, the planetary influences that affect men—those I will now fully explain, having bowed to Maheśvara (the Great Lord). (03-219-45)
Whoever sees the gods, whether awake or even lying down, quickly becomes deranged—such a person is known as being possessed by a deva-graha (divine possession). (03-219-46)
If a man, whether sitting or lying down, sees the ancestors and quickly becomes mad, he should indeed be recognized as possessed by an ancestral spirit. (03-219-47)
Whoever despises the siddhas and is cursed by the angered, quickly becomes mad; he should be recognized as possessed by a siddha spirit. (03-219-48)
He who smells odors and also tastes things of various kinds, and quickly becomes mad, is to be recognized as possessed by a Rākṣasa spirit. (03-219-49)
If the divine Gandharvas also touch a man on earth, he quickly becomes mad; that is indeed an afflicting spirit of the Gandharvas. (03-219-50)
When yakṣas enter a man at a particular time, and he quickly becomes insane, he should be recognized as one possessed by a yakṣa. (03-219-51)
They know as the seizure of a piśāca that condition in which piśācas always, at times, ascend upon a man, and he quickly becomes mad. (03-219-52)
When the mind of a person is agitated by faults and becomes deluded, he becomes insane; but his remedy, according to the śāstra, should be applied quickly. (03-219-53)
He quickly becomes mad from despondency and fear, and even from seeing terrifying things; but strength of mind is his means of support. (03-219-54)
There is one who desires to play, another who desires to enjoy, and yet another who desires to approach—thus, this is the threefold nature of grasping. (03-219-55)
For as long as seventy years these planets influence men; after that, for embodied beings, fever acts like a planet. (03-219-56)
The planets always avoid a person who is self-controlled, pure, ever alert, whose senses are disciplined, and who possesses steadfast faith. (03-219-57)
Thus, this description of the planets for humans has been given to you. The planets do not affect devotees, men devoted to the deity, the great Lord. (03-219-58)
