09.043
Library: Story of Skanda and significance of Samantapanchaka.
janamejaya uvāca॥
Janamejaya said:
sarasvatyāḥ prabhāvo'yamuktaste dvijasattama। kumārasyābhiṣekaṃ tu brahmanvyākhyātumarhasi ॥9-43-1॥
The influence of Saraswati has been described to you, O noble Brahman. Now, you should explain the consecration ceremony of the prince.
yasmin kāle ca deśe ca yathā ca vadatāṃ vara। yaiś cābhiṣikto bhagavān vidhinā yena ca prabhuḥ ॥9-43-2॥
At the time and place, as the best among speakers, the blessed one was anointed by the prescribed method by the lord.
skando yathā ca daityānāmakarotkadanaṃ mahat। tathā me sarvamācakṣva paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me ॥9-43-3॥
"As Skanda caused great destruction among the demons, tell me everything, for my curiosity is immense."
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaishampayana spoke:
kuruvaṁśasya sadṛśamidaṁ kautūhalaṁ tava। harṣamutpādayatyetadvaco me janamejaya ॥9-43-4॥
O Janamejaya, this curiosity of yours, akin to that of the Kuru dynasty, brings joy through my words.
hanta te kathayiṣyāmi śṛṇvānasya janādhipa। abhiṣekaṃ kumārasya prabhāvaṃ ca mahātmanaḥ ॥9-43-5॥
"Indeed, O king, I will tell you about the consecration of the prince and the glory of the great soul as you listen."
tejo māheśvaraṃ skannamagnau prapatitaṃ purā। tatsarvabhakṣo bhagavānnāśakaddagdhumakṣayam ॥9-43-6॥
Once, the energy of Lord Shiva fell into the fire, and it was all-consuming. The Lord managed to burn even the indestructible.
tenāsīdati tejasvī dīptimānhavyavāhanaḥ। na caiva dhārayāmāsa garbhaṃ tejomayaṃ tadā ॥9-43-7॥
By his power, the fire became very brilliant and radiant. However, he did not hold the energy-filled embryo at that time.
sa gaṅgām abhisaṅgamya niyogād brahmaṇaḥ prabhuḥ। garbham āhitavān divyaṃ bhāskaropama-tejasam ॥9-43-8॥
He, by the command of Brahma, approached Ganga and placed the divine embryo, which had the splendor similar to the sun.
atha gaṅgāpi taṃ garbhamasahantī vidhāraṇe। utsasarja girau ramye himavatyamarārcite ॥9-43-9॥
Then Ganga, unable to bear the embryo, released it on the beautiful Himalayas, a mountain revered by the gods.
sa tatra vavṛdhe lokānāvṛtya jvalanātmajaḥ। dadṛśurjvalanākāraṃ taṃ garbhamatha kṛttikāḥ ॥9-43-10॥
He, the son of fire, grew there covering the worlds. Then the Krittikas saw that fiery form, the embryo.
śarastambe mahātmānamanalātmajamīśvaram। mamāyamiti tāḥ sarvāḥ putrārthinyo'bhicakramuḥ ॥9-43-11॥
In the pillar of arrows stood the great soul, the son of fire, the lord. All those desiring sons approached, saying, "This is mine."
tāsāṃ viditvā bhāvaṃ taṃ mātṝṇāṃ bhagavānprabhuḥ। prasnutānāṃ payaḥ ṣaḍbhirvadanairapibattadā ॥9-43-12॥
Understanding the feelings of the mothers, the divine lord, with his six mouths, drank their flowing milk at that time.
taṁ prabhāvaṁ samālakṣya tasya bālasya kṛttikāḥ। paraṁ vismayamāpannā devyo divyavapur-dharāḥ ॥9-43-13॥
The goddesses known as the Krittikas, observing the extraordinary power of the boy, were filled with great wonder, as they bore their divine forms.
yatrotsṛṣṭaḥ sa bhagavāngaṅgayā girimūrdhani। sa śailaḥ kāñcanaḥ sarvaḥ sambabhau kurusattama ॥9-43-14॥
The divine presence, released by the Ganges on the mountain peak, made the entire golden mountain shine brilliantly, O best of the Kurus.
vardhatā caiva garbheṇa pṛthivī tena rañjitā। ataśca sarve saṃvṛttā girayaḥ kāñcanākarāḥ ॥9-43-15॥
The earth, nourished by the womb, was thus adorned, and consequently, all the mountains turned into golden mines.
kumāraśca mahāvīryaḥ kārttikeya iti smṛtaḥ। gāṅgeyaḥ pūrvamabhavanmahāyogabalānvitaḥ ॥9-43-16॥
Kumāra, known for his great strength, is remembered as Kārttikeya. In the past, he was the son of Ganga and was endowed with the power of great yoga.
sa devastapasā caiva vīryeṇa ca samanvitaḥ। vavṛdhe'tīva rājendra candravatpriyadarśanaḥ ॥9-43-17॥
He, the divine being, endowed with penance and strength, grew immensely, O King, and became as pleasing to behold as the moon.
sa tasmin kāñcane divye śarastambe śriyā vṛtaḥ। stūyamānas tadā śete gandharvair munibhiś tathā ॥9-43-18॥
He lies on the divine golden arrow-pillar, surrounded by splendor, while being praised by both Gandharvas and sages.
tathainamanvanṛtyanta devakanyāḥ sahasraśaḥ। divyavāditranṛttajñāḥ stuvantyaścārudarśanāḥ ॥9-43-19॥
Thus, thousands of divine maidens danced around him, playing divine musical instruments and skilled in dance, praising him who was beautiful to behold.
anvāste ca nadī devaṃ gaṅgā vai saritāṃ varā। dadhāra pṛthivī cainaṃ bibhratī rūpamuttamam ॥9-43-20॥
The river Ganga, revered as the best among rivers, followed the deity. The earth supported and carried this magnificent form.
jātakarmādikāstasya kriyāścakre bṛhaspatiḥ। vedaścainaṃ caturmūrtirupatasthe kṛtāñjaliḥ ॥9-43-21॥
Brihaspati conducted the birth and other ceremonies for him. The Veda, personified as the four-faced deity, attended him with reverence, hands folded in respect.
dhanurvedaścatuṣpādaḥ śastragrāmaḥ sasaṅgrahaḥ। tatraiṇaṃ samupātiṣṭhatsākṣādvāṇī ca kevalā ॥9-43-22॥
The science of archery, which is fourfold and includes a collection of weapons, was directly approached by pure speech there.
sa dadarśa mahāvīryaṃ devadevamumāpatiṃ। śailaputryā sahāsīnaṃ bhūtasaṅghaśatairvṛtam ॥9-43-23॥
He beheld the mighty Lord Shiva, the consort of Uma, seated with Parvati, the daughter of the mountain, surrounded by hundreds of spirit groups.
nikāyā bhūtasaṅghānāṃ paramādbhutadarśanāḥ। vikṛtā vikṛtākārā vikṛtābharaṇadhvajāḥ ॥9-43-24॥
The groups of ghostly assemblies appeared most wondrous, with distorted forms and adorned with distorted ornaments and banners.
vyāghrasiṃharkṣavadanā biḍālamakarānanāḥ। vṛṣadaṃśamukhāścānye gajoṣṭravadanāstathā ॥9-43-25॥
There are those with faces of tigers, lions, and bears, others with faces of cats and crocodiles; some have faces of bulls and mosquitoes, while others resemble elephants and camels.
ulūkavadanāḥ kecidgṛdhragomāyudarśanāḥ। krauñcapārāvatanibhairvadanai rāṅkavairapi ॥9-43-26॥
Some have faces like owls, while others resemble vultures and jackals. Their faces are similar to curlews, pigeons, and herons.
śvāvicchalyakagodhānāṃ kharaiḍakagavāṃ tathā। sadṛśāni vapūṃṣyanye tatra tatra vyadhārayan ॥9-43-27॥
Dogs, jackals, cattle, donkeys, sheep, and cows were also present; others assumed similar forms in various places.
kecicchailāmbudaprakhyāścakrālātagadāyudhāḥ। kecidañjanapuñjābhāḥ kecicchvetācalaprabhāḥ ॥9-43-28॥
Some appeared like mountains and clouds, armed with discus, firebrand, and mace; some looked like a mass of collyrium; some shone with the radiance of a white mountain.
saptamātṛgaṇāścaiva samājagmurviśāṃ pate। sādhyā viśve'tha maruto vasavaḥ pitarastathā ॥9-43-29॥
The seven groups of mothers, along with the Sādhyas, Viśvedevas, Maruts, Vasus, and ancestors, assembled, O lord of the people.
rudrādityāstathā siddhā bhujagā dānavāḥ khagāḥ। brahmā svayambhūrbhagavānsaputraḥ saha viṣṇunā ॥9-43-30॥
The Rudras, Ādityas, perfected beings, serpents, demons, and birds, along with Brahmā, the self-born divine, and his son, are together with Viṣṇu.
śakras tathābhyayād draṣṭuṃ kumāravaram acyutam। nārada-pramukhāś cāpi deva-gandharva-sattamāḥ ॥9-43-31॥
Indra, along with Nārada and the foremost of gods and Gandharvas, approached to see the best of boys, Acyuta.
devarṣayaśca siddhāśca bṛhaspatipurogamāḥ। ṛbhavo nāma varadā devānāmapi devatāḥ ॥ te'pi tatra samājagmur yāmā dhāmāśca sarvaśaḥ ॥9-43-32॥
The divine sages and perfected beings, led by Brihaspati, along with the Ribhus, who are known as bestowers of boons and even deities among the gods, also gathered there, including all the Yamas and abodes.
sa tu bālo'pi bhagavān mahāyogabalānvitaḥ। abhyājagāma deveśaṃ śūlahastaṃ pinākinam ॥9-43-33॥
Despite being young, he, endowed with great yogic power, approached the lord of the gods, who holds a trident and is the bearer of the bow Pinaka.
tamāvrajantamālakṣya śivasyāsīnmanogatam। yugapacchailaputryāśca gaṅgāyāḥ pāvakasya ca ॥9-43-34॥
Seeing him approach, Shiva simultaneously thought of the daughter of the mountain, Ganga, and the fire.
kiṁ nu pūrvamayaṁ bālo gauravādabhyupaiṣyati। api māmiti sarveṣāṁ teṣāmāsīnmanogatam ॥9-43-35॥
The thought in everyone's mind was, 'Will this boy, out of respect, approach me first?'
teṣāmetamabhiprāyaṃ caturṇāmupalakṣya saḥ। yugapadyogamāsthāya sasarja vividhāstanūḥ ॥9-43-36॥
He noticed the intention of the four and simultaneously made an effort to create various forms.
tato'bhavaccaturmūrtiḥ kṣaṇena bhagavānprabhuḥ। skandaḥ śākho viśākhaśca naigameṣaśca pṛṣṭhataḥ ॥9-43-37॥
Then, in an instant, the divine lord manifested in four forms: Skanda, Shakha, Vishakha, and Naigamesha at the back.
evaṃ sa kṛtvā hyātmānaṃ caturdhā bhagavānprabhuḥ। yato rudrastataḥ skando jagāmādbhutadarśanaḥ ॥9-43-38॥
Thus, the divine lord, having divided himself into four, from whom Rudra and then the wonderfully appearing Skanda emerged.
viśākhastu yayau yena devī girivarātmajā। śākho yayau ca bhagavānvāyumūrtirvibhāvasum ॥ naigameṣo'gamadgaṅgāṃ kumāraḥ pāvakaprabhaḥ ॥9-43-39॥
Viśākhā went to the place where the goddess, daughter of the great mountain, had gone. Śākha and the divine embodiment of wind, Vibhāvasu, also went. Naigameṣa, the prince with the brilliance of fire, proceeded to the Ganga.
sarve bhāsvaradehāste catvāraḥ samarūpiṇaḥ। tānsamabhyayuravyagrāstadadbhutamivābhavat ॥9-43-40॥
All four of them, with their shining bodies and similar appearance, approached calmly, and it seemed as if something wonderful had happened.
hāhākāro mahān āsīd devadānavarakṣasām। taddṛṣṭvā mahad āścaryam adbhutaṃ romaharṣaṇam ॥9-43-41॥
There was a tremendous uproar among the gods, demons, and rākṣasas. Witnessing this astonishing and marvelous event was truly hair-raising.
tato rudraśca devī ca pāvakaśca pitāmaham। gaṅgayā sahitāḥ sarve praṇipeturjagatpatim ॥9-43-42॥
Then Rudra, Devi, Pavaka, and the grandfather, accompanied by Ganga, all bowed down to the Lord of the universe.
praṇipatya tataste tu vidhivad rājapuṅgava। idam ūcur vaco rājan kārttikeyapriyepsayā ॥9-43-43॥
After bowing, they respectfully addressed the best of kings with the intention to please Kārttikeya, saying these words, O king.
asya bālasya bhagavannādhipatyaṃ yathepsitam। asmatpriyārthaṃ deveśa sadṛśaṃ dātumarhasi ॥9-43-44॥
O Lord, you should grant this boy the sovereignty as desired, for the sake of our beloved, O Lord of the gods, in a manner that is appropriate.
tataḥ sa bhagavāndhīmānsarvalokapitāmahaḥ। manasā cintayāmāsa kimayaṃ labhatāmiti ॥9-43-45॥
Then the wise and blessed grandsire of all worlds, in his mind, pondered what this one should obtain.
aiśvaryāṇi hi sarvāṇi devagandharvarakṣasām। bhūtayakṣavihaṅgānāṃ pannagānāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ ॥9-43-46॥
All the wealth and prosperity of gods, gandharvas, rakshasas, beings, yakshas, birds, and serpents are indeed complete and entire.
pūrvamevādidheśāsau nikāyeṣu mahātmanām। samarthaṃ ca tamaaiśvarye mahāmatiramanyata ॥9-43-47॥
"Previously, he had commanded in the assemblies of the great souls, and the wise one considered him capable of sovereignty."
tato muhūrtaṃ sa dhyātvā devānāṃ śreyasi sthitaḥ। senāpatyaṃ dadau tasmai sarvabhūteṣu bhārata ॥9-43-48॥
Then, after meditating for a moment, he, focused on the welfare of the gods, appointed him as the general among all beings, O Bharata.
sarvadevanikāyānāṃ ye rājānaḥ pariśrutāḥ। tānsarvānvyādideśāsmai sarvabhūtapitāmahaḥ ॥9-43-49॥
The great-grandfather of all beings summoned all the renowned kings from the divine assemblies to his presence.
tataḥ kumāram ādāya devā brahmapurogamāḥ। abhiṣekārtham ājagmuḥ śailendraṃ sahitās tataḥ ॥9-43-50॥
Then, the gods, led by Brahma, took the prince and arrived together at the lord of mountains for his consecration.
puṇyāṃ haimavatīṃ devīṃ saricchreṣṭhāṃ sarasvatīm। samantapañcake yā vai triṣu lokeṣu viśrutā ॥9-43-51॥
The sacred goddess Sarasvati, daughter of Himavat, renowned as the best of rivers, is celebrated in the three worlds, especially in the region of Samantapanchaka.
tatra tīre sarasvatyāḥ puṇye sarvaguṇānvite। niṣedurdevagandharvāḥ sarve sampūrṇamānasāḥ ॥9-43-52॥
At the sacred bank of the river Sarasvati, which is endowed with all virtues, all the gods and Gandharvas sat down with their minds fully composed.
