09.044
Library: Consecration of Kumāra. Various gods gift Skanda with various weapons. Description of the army assembled around Skanda.
Vaiśampāyana said:
Then Bṛhaspati, following the scriptures, collected all the materials for consecration and offered ghee into the kindled fire as per the rules.
Then, seated on the supreme seat adorned with excellent jewels and divine gems, given by Himavat.
The groups of deities, having taken the consecration substance, accompanied by procedural mantras and all auspicious materials, prepared for the ritual.
Indra and Vishnu, both of great strength, along with the Sun and Moon, Dhata and Vidhata, as well as Wind and Fire, are all present.
The wise one is accompanied by Pūṣan, Bhaga, Aryaman, Aṃśa, Vivasvat, Rudra, Mitra, and Varuṇa.
The Lord is surrounded by various divine beings including Rudras, Vasus, Ādityas, Aśvins, Viśvedevas, Maruts, Sādhyas, and Pitṛs, indicating his supreme power and authority.
The Gandharvas, Apsaras, Yakshas, Rakshasas, serpents, and divine sages, along with countless others, including the esteemed Brahma sages, were present.
Surrounded by the Vaikhanasas, Valakhilyas, air-eaters, Maricipas, Bhrigus, Angiras, ascetics, great souls, Vidyadharas, virtuous ones, and those perfected in yoga.
The grandfathers Pulastya and Pulaha, known for their great asceticism, along with Angiras, Kashyapa, Atri, Marichi, and Bhrigu, are mentioned here.
O lord of the people, you are the sacrifice, Shiva, Varuna, Manu, Daksha, as well as the seasons, planets, and luminaries.
The rivers, Vedas, oceans, lakes, and various sacred places are embodied and eternal. The earth, sky, directions, and trees are also included, O ruler of people.
Aditi, the mother of gods, along with modesty, prosperity, Svaha, Sarasvati, Uma, Shachi, Sinivali, Anumati, Kuhu, Raka, and Dhishana, are indeed the wives and other consorts of the celestial beings.
The Himalayas, Vindhya, and Meru, all with many peaks; Airavata with his companions, the arts, the regions, as well as the months, fortnights, seasons, and day and night, O king.
Uccaiḥśravā is the best of horses, Nāgarāja is the king of serpents, Vāmana, Aruna, and Garuda are mentioned along with trees and herbs.
Dharma, the divine god, along with Time, Yama, Death, and Yama's followers, indeed gathered together.
Because of their multitude, the various groups of deities, who were not mentioned, gathered from all directions for the consecration of Kumāra.
Then, O king, all the gods took the consecration vessels and all the auspicious items completely.
O king, the golden pots filled with divine ingredients, along with the Sarasvati goddesses, are indeed filled with auspicious and divine waters.
The delighted gods anointed the prince, who was the general and a great soul, instilling fear among the demons.
Once upon a time, O great king, Varuna, the lord of waters, was anointed by the divine Brahma, the grandfather of the worlds. Kashyapa, of great splendor, and others who are not mentioned, were also present.
Brahma, being pleased, gave him strong and swift beings, who were as fast as the wind, possessing the desired strength, and were perfected beings and great councilors.
Nandiṣeṇa, Lohitākṣa, Ghaṇṭākarṇa, and the esteemed fourth follower, known as Kumudamālin.
Then, O king of kings, he gave to Skanda, the destroyer of the enemies of the gods, Sthanu, who possesses great speed and is part of the great assembly, along with the sacrifice, bearing a hundred illusions and desires, endowed with the strength of desire and heroism.
In the battle between gods and demons, he, enraged, killed fourteen tens of thousands of demons known for their terrible deeds with his arms.
Thus, the gods bestowed upon him an invincible army filled with demons, capable of destroying the enemies of the gods, and possessing a universal form.
Then all the gods, including Indra, along with celestial musicians, demigods, demons, sages, and ancestors, made a sound of victory.
Yama assigned two followers, Unmatha and Pramatha, who were as powerful and radiant as Yama and Kāla.
The radiant Bhaskara and his companion, both followers of the Sun, were given by the pleased and glorious Sun to Kartikeya.
Soma, resembling the peak of Kailasa and anointed with white garlands, also gave his attendants a gem, which was indeed a beautiful gem.
The fire-god, with tongues of flame, bestowed upon the son of light two valiant followers who were capable of destroying enemy forces.
An iron club, a banyan tree, and a terrible, very mighty fire were given to Skanda, the wise one, along with five fierce followers approved by valor.
Indra, known as the destroyer of enemy warriors, bestowed upon the son of Anala both the loud cry and the lotus, symbols of power held by the wielders of the thunderbolt and staff. Together, they vanquished many foes of Mahendra in the battle.
Vishnu, of great fame, gave the powerful discus, the transition, and great strength, along with three followers, to Skanda.
The Ashvins, delighted, bestowed upon Skanda growth, delight, and mastery over all knowledge, O noble descendant of Bharata.
The renowned creator bestowed upon the great soul jasmine, flowers, lotus, and various sounds.
Tvaṣṭā, the divine architect, gave Skanda two followers who were crooked and more crooked, strong, sheep-faced, and exceedingly powerful, as boons endowed with great magic.
Mitra gave to the great prince, who is known for his good vows and truthfulness, the two great souls who possess knowledge and austerity, as a lord would. This reflects the noble qualities and the esteemed status of the prince.
The creator bestowed upon Kartikeya, who is renowned in the world, the beautiful and boon-bestowing qualities, known across the three worlds, along with radiance and a great soul with auspicious deeds.
Pālitaka, Kālika, and both great magicians, along with Pūṣā and the attendants, were given to Kārttikeya, O Bhārata.
Vayu, the wind god, bestowed strength and immense power upon Kartikeya, the great-faced and mighty one, O noble descendant of Bharata.
Varuna, who always keeps his promises, gave the demons Ghasa and Atighasa, known for their immense strength and shark-like faces, to Kartikeya.
Himavan, the king, indeed gave his radiant and great-souled daughter, who was very powerful, to the son of the fire god.
Meru presented his followers, Kanchana and the noble Meghamalina, to the son of Agni, as a gesture of alliance, O Bharata.
He bestowed the firm and very firm mountains, Meru and two others, upon the great soul, the son of Agni, who possessed immense strength and valor.
Vindhya, with its elevated and very high peaks and great stone warriors, gave both attendants to the son of Agni.
Samudra also entrusted both Gadadhara, representing collection and division, to the son of Agni, who were great councilors.
Pārvatī, who was auspicious-looking, bestowed madness, Puṣpadanta, and Śaṅkukarṇa upon the son of Agni.
Vasuki, the king of serpents, bestowed great victories and serpents upon the son of fire, addressing him as a tiger among men.
Thus, the Sādhyas, Rudras, Vasus, ancestors, oceans, rivers, and mighty mountains are mentioned.
The commanders of the army, equipped with divine weapons and adorned in various attires, were given spears and lances.
Listen to the names of other warriors of Skanda, who are equipped with various weapons and adorned with colorful armor.
Shankukarṇa, Nikumbha, Padma, Kumuda, Ananta, the twelve-armed, along with Krishna and Upakrishna are mentioned.
O king, he is described as having the ability to hear like a bucket, shoulders resembling those of a monkey, golden eyes, the power to subdue water, the intimidation of dice players, a bad river, and the capability to dispel darkness.
The lord, who is one-eyed, twelve-eyed, and also has a single matted lock, is thousand-armed, massive, tiger-eyed, and shakes the earth.
He is known by a virtuous and good name, with a beautiful face and pleasant appearance, well-known like a lotus, adorned with beloved garlands and perfumes.
Hari, with an unborn belly, an elephant head, eyes on his shoulders, a hundred eyes, a tongue of flame, fierce demeanor, white hair, and matted locks.
Meghanada, known for his four fangs and eight tongues, is also recognized for his broad ears, lightning-like eyes, a mouth shaped like a bow, a large belly, and his ability to consume wind.
Udarākṣa, Jhaṣākṣa, Vajranābha, Vasuprabha, Samudravega, O king, and Shailakampī are also present.
This is the son, the flow, and also Nanda and Upananda, along with Dhumra, Shveta, Kalinga, Siddhartha, and Varada.
Priyaka, Nanda, Gonanda, the mighty one; Ānanda, Pramoda, Svastika, and Dhruvaka were all present.
Kṣemavāpaḥ, the well-born and successful traveler, O Bhārata, brother of cows, golden-crowned, and the great lord of the assembly.
The singer, the jester, the valiant one with the arrow and sword; Vaitali, Atitali, and the two Katikavatikas.
The one born of a swan, whose limbs are smeared with mud, who excites the ocean, is indeed fierce in battle, and is known for laughter, white-headed, is Nandaka.
Kālakaṇṭha, Prabhāsa, Kumbhāṇḍaka, Kālakākṣa, Sita, and Bhūtalonmathana are mentioned here.
O Bharata, the one who carries sacrifices, flows like a river, sacrifices to the gods, drinks soma, is with a net, is greatly powerful, and is Kratha and Kratha.
Tuhana, Tuhāna, and Citradeva are powerful; Madhura, Suprasāda, and Kirīti are mighty.
He is clothed in honey-colored garments, has a pot-bellied appearance, is blowing like Cupid, has a needle-like face, and is powerful.
The one with a white face, handsome and beautiful face, pale complexion, armed with a staff, strong arms, and resembling the dust like a cuckoo, thus described.
The immovable, golden-eyed lord, though childish, is a wanderer like a lotus, with a vulture's face and a jackal's demeanor.
The group consists of individuals with distinct features: one with an iron face, another with a stomach-like appearance, one with a pot face, and Kuṇḍaka. Additionally, there are Madgugrīva and Kṛṣṇaujā, one with a swan face, and Candrabhāḥ.
Pāṇikūrma and Śambūka, who are five-faced and teachers. Crow-faced Jambūka and vegetable-faced Kuṇḍaka.
O Janamejaya, those endowed with yoga, the great souls who are always dear to the Brahmins, the ancestral great souls, and the great council members, whether in the prime of youth, children, or elders, are indeed present.
Thousands of attendants gathered around the prince. O Janamejaya, listen to those who have various kinds of faces.
There are faces of tortoises, cocks, hares, owls, donkeys, camels, and boars.
There are humans with faces of sheep and jackals, and terrifying ones with faces of crocodiles and porpoises.
O Bharata, there are those with faces like cats, hares, and long faces, as well as those with faces like mongooses, owls, and dogs, among others.
There are beings with faces of mice, cats, and peacocks; others have faces of fish, rams, goats, or buffaloes.
There are those with the faces of bears, tigers, leopards, and lions; others have terrifying faces of elephants and crocodiles.
There are those with faces of eagles, swords, wolves, crows, cows, camels, and others with mosquito faces.
O Bharata, there are those with great bellies and foot-like limbs, starry eyes, and pigeon-like faces, as well as others with bull-like faces.
There are those with faces like cuckoos, hawks, and partridges; others have faces like chameleons, and they wear spotless garments.
They were serpent-faced, spear-faced, fierce-faced, and had a hundred faces; they were venomous serpents wearing bark garments and had cow-like noses.
They are described as having large bellies and thin bodies, large bodies and thin bellies, with short necks, large ears, and adorned with various serpents.
O great king, they were clothed in elephant skin and black deer skin, with faces on their shoulders and stomachs.
There are many beings with faces on their backs, jaws, thighs, and sides, as well as those with faces from various directions.
Thus, the leaders resemble insects and birds in appearance, while others have faces of various serpents and possess many arms and heads.
Some have arms like various trees, others have heads at their waists, and yet others have faces like serpent coils, dwelling among various bushes.
They were covered with garments made of bark and wooden clothes, wearing various attires, and indeed with clothes made of skin.
The description refers to individuals who are adorned with turbans, crowns, and diadems, possessing necks like conch shells, radiating brilliance, having five crests, and having hard hair.
There are those with three crests, two crests, and even seven crests; others have crests, crowns, are shaven-headed, or have matted hair.
Some are adorned with wonderful garlands, some have hairy faces. They are always dressed in divine garlands and garments, appearing as beloved forms.
The dark ones, with fleshless faces and long backs, without bellies; some with broad backs, others with short backs, and some with hanging bellies and genitals.
They were of various forms: some with great arms, some with short arms, some short-bodied and dwarfish, some hunchbacked, some long-legged, and some with ears and necks like elephants.
There are those with noses like elephants, tortoises, and wolves, others with long lips and tongues, terrifying and facing downward.
O king, there were thousands of terrible creatures with great, short, and four fangs, resembling lordly elephants.
The well-divided bodies are radiant and well-adorned, with reddish-brown eyes, conch-shaped ears, and crooked noses, O Bharata.
O Bharata, they are described as having broad and great fangs, thick lips, and yellow hair. They possess various feet, lips, fangs, hands, and heads, and are covered with different armors and speak various languages.
The lords, skilled in regional languages, were conversing with each other. The great council members, joyful, moved around in such a manner.
O Bharata, they are described as having long necks, nails, feet, heads, and arms; their eyes are reddish, their throats are blue, and their ears are long.
Some are like Bhima, while others resemble collyrium. There are those with white bodies, red necks, and brown eyes, and others who are spotted and variegated. Many, O king, are diverse in appearance, descendant of Bharata.
The kings, resembling yak-tail fans and cushions, were of white and red colors, displaying various and same hues, and shone like the splendor of peacocks.
"Listen again to the praise of my weapons. The remaining councilors have completed the collection of weapons."
Some beings have their hands raised with nooses, mouths wide open like donkeys, broad eyes, blue throats, and arms resembling clubs.
They wielded hundred-slaying weapons and discuses, and also clubs in their hands; they held spears and swords, and were great-bodied and immensely powerful.
O Bharata, there are warriors with maces and missiles in their hands, as well as those with javelins. There are also those with swords and clubs in their hands, and others with staffs.
The great souls, equipped with various terrible weapons, were swift, powerful, and forceful, and thus were the great councilors.
Upon witnessing the prince's consecration, the mighty warriors, who were fond of battle and adorned with bell-garlands, danced with joy.
These and many other great councilors, O king, gathered around the illustrious Kartikeya, the revered one.
The divine, celestial, and earthly beings, resembling the wind, were commanded by the gods and became the heroic followers of Skanda.
Thousands, tens of millions, and hundreds of millions of such people gathered around and attended the anointed great soul.
