The Birth of Skanda

Verse 1 (3.227.1)

शिवा भार्या त्वङ्गिरसः शीलरूपगुणान्विता । तस्याः सा प्रथमं रूपं कृत्वा देवी जनाधिप ॥

śivā bhāryā tvaṅgirasaḥ śīlarūpaguṇānvitā | tasyāḥ sā prathamaṃ rūpaṃ kṛtvā devī janādhipa

Shiva, the wife of Angiras, was rich in virtue, beauty and every good quality. Taking her form first, O lord of men, the goddess Svaha

Note on the text: Spacing restored: कृत्वादेवी → कृत्वा देवी (words run together in Wikisource). This verse is CE 3.214.1ab–cd.

Verse 2 (3.227.2)

जगाम पावकाभ्याशं तं चोवाच वराङ्गना । मामग्ने कामसंतप्तां त्वं कामयितुमर्हसि ॥

jagāma pāvakābhyāśaṃ taṃ covāca varāṅganā | māmagne kāmasaṃtaptāṃ tvaṃ kāmayitumarhasi

went to Agni, and the lovely woman said to him: "Agni, I am burning with desire. You must make love to me.

Note on the text: First line is CE 3.214.1ef, second line 3.214.2ab.

Verse 3 (3.227.3)

करिष्यसि न चेदेवं मृतां मामुपधारय । तवाप्यधर्मः सुमहान्भविता वै हुताशन ॥

kariṣyasi na cedevaṃ mṛtāṃ māmupadhāraya | tavāpyadharmaḥ sumahānbhavitā vai hutāśana

If you will not do so, count me as dead. And a great wrong will fall on you too, O eater of oblations.

Note on the text: Removed the backtick and quote marks around the added line (Wikisource's marks for a line outside the critical text). First line is CE 3.214.2cd; the second line is not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension; its apparatus gives it as 3.214.2*1059). Speaker: Svaha's words in Shiva's form fill the whole verse (no heading in Wikisource).

Verse 4 (3.227.4)

अहमङ्गिरसो भार्या शिवा नाम हुताशन । सखीभिः सहिता प्राप्ता मन्त्रयित्वा विनिश्चयम् ॥

ahamaṅgiraso bhāryā śivā nāma hutāśana | sakhībhiḥ sahitā prāptā mantrayitvā viniścayam

I am Shiva, the wife of Angiras, O Agni. I have come with my companions, after we took counsel and made up our minds."

Note on the text: Speaker: the disguised Svaha's words fill the whole verse (Wikisource carries Markandeya's heading over).

Verse 5 (3.227.5)

कथं मां त्वं विजानीषे कामार्तमितराः कथम् । यास्त्वया कीर्तिताः सर्वाः सप्तर्षीणां प्रियाः स्त्रियः ॥

kathaṃ māṃ tvaṃ vijānīṣe kāmārtamitarāḥ katham | yāstvayā kīrtitāḥ sarvāḥ saptarṣīṇāṃ priyāḥ striyaḥ

"How do you know that I am sick with desire? And how do the others know, all those you have named, the beloved wives of the Seven Sages?"

Verse 6 (3.227.6)

अस्माकं त्वं प्रियो नित्यं बिभीमस्तु वयं तव । त्वच्चित्तमिङ्गितैर्ज्ञात्वा प्रेषिताऽस्मि तवान्तिकम् ॥

asmākaṃ tvaṃ priyo nityaṃ bibhīmastu vayaṃ tava | tvaccittamiṅgitairjñātvā preṣitā'smi tavāntikam

"You have always been dear to us, but we are afraid of you. Reading your heart from its signs, they have sent me to you.

Verse 7 (3.227.7)

मैथुनायेह संप्राप्ता कामाच्चैव द्रुतं च माम् । उपयन्तुं महावीर्य पूर्वमेव त्वमर्हसि । जामयो मां प्रतीक्षन्ते गमिष्यामि हुताशन ॥

maithunāyeha saṃprāptā kāmāccaiva drutaṃ ca mām | upayantuṃ mahāvīrya pūrvameva tvamarhasi | jāmayo māṃ pratīkṣante gamiṣyāmi hutāśana

I have come here to lie with you, moved by desire; take me quickly. You should wed me at once, mighty one. My sisters are waiting for me; I must go back, O Agni."

Note on the text: Removed the backtick and quote marks around the added line (Wikisource's marks for a line outside the critical text). Also removed the square brackets around the third line. The second line is not in the critical edition's constituted text (vulgate; its apparatus gives it as 3.214.6*1060). The third line is CE 3.214.6cd, which reads mātaro for जामयो.

Verse 8 (3.227.8)

ततोऽग्निरुपयेमे तां शिवां प्रीतिमुदायुतः । प्रीत्या देवी समायुक्ता शुक्रं जग्राह पाणिना ॥

tato'gnirupayeme tāṃ śivāṃ prītimudāyutaḥ | prītyā devī samāyuktā śukraṃ jagrāha pāṇinā

Then Agni, full of joy and delight, took Shiva as his wife; and the goddess, joined with him in love, caught his seed in her hand.

Verse 9 (3.227.9)

साऽचिन्तयन्ममेदं ये रूपं द्रक्ष्यन्ति कानने । ते ब्राह्मणीनामनृतं दोषं वक्ष्यन्ति पावके ॥

sā'cintayanmamedaṃ ye rūpaṃ drakṣyanti kānane | te brāhmaṇīnāmanṛtaṃ doṣaṃ vakṣyanti pāvake

She thought: "Those who see me in this form in the forest will falsely charge the brahmin wives with a fault with Agni.

Verse 10 (3.227.10)

तस्मादेतद्रक्षमाणा गरुडी संभवाम्यहम् । वनान्निर्गमनं चैव सुखं मम भविष्यति ॥

tasmādetadrakṣamāṇā garuḍī saṃbhavāmyaham | vanānnirgamanaṃ caiva sukhaṃ mama bhaviṣyati

So, to guard against this, I will become a garudi bird; that way I can leave the forest with ease."

Note on the text: Speaker: the goddess's own resolve, in direct speech filling the whole verse; Wikisource's heading before the next verse returns to Markandeya.

Verse 11 (3.227.11)

सुपर्णी सा तदा भूत्वा निर्जगाम महावनात् । अपश्यत्पर्वतं श्वेतं शरस्तम्बैः सुसंवृतम् ॥

suparṇī sā tadā bhūtvā nirjagāma mahāvanāt | apaśyatparvataṃ śvetaṃ śarastambaiḥ susaṃvṛtam

Becoming a bird, she flew out of the great forest and saw the White Mountain, thickly covered with clumps of reeds,

Verse 12 (3.227.12)

दृष्टीविषैः सप्तशीर्षैर्गुप्तं भोगिभिरद्भुतैः । रक्षोभिश्च पिशाचैश्च रौद्रैर्भूतगणैस्तथा ॥

dṛṣṭīviṣaiḥ saptaśīrṣairguptaṃ bhogibhiradbhutaiḥ | rakṣobhiśca piśācaiśca raudrairbhūtagaṇaistathā

guarded by wondrous seven-headed serpents whose very glance is poison, and by rakshasas, pishachas and fierce hosts of spirits,

Note on the text: This verse is CE 3.214.11ab–cd.

Verse 13 (3.227.13)

राक्षसीभिश्च संपूर्णमनेकैश्च मृगद्विजैः । नदीप्रस्रवणोपेतं नानातरुलताचितम् ॥

rākṣasībhiśca saṃpūrṇamanekaiśca mṛgadvijaiḥ | nadīprasravaṇopetaṃ nānātarulatācitam

full of rakshasa women and many beasts and birds, with rivers and springs, and dense with every kind of tree and creeper.

Note on the text: Removed the backtick and quote marks around the added line (Wikisource's marks for a line outside the critical text). First line is CE 3.214.11ef; the second line is not in the critical edition's constituted text (vulgate; its apparatus gives it as 3.214.11*1061).

Verse 14 (3.227.14)

सा तत्र सहसा गत्वा शैलपृष्ठं सुदुर्गमम् । प्राक्षिपत्काञ्चने कुण्डे शुक्रं सा त्वरिता शुभा ॥

sā tatra sahasā gatvā śailapṛṣṭhaṃ sudurgamam | prākṣipatkāñcane kuṇḍe śukraṃ sā tvaritā śubhā

Reaching at once that ridge, so hard to climb, the fair one quickly cast the seed into a golden pit.

Verse 15 (3.227.15)

शिष्टानामपि सा देवी सप्तर्षीणां महात्मनाम् । पत्नीसरूपतां कृत्वा रमयामास पावकम् ॥

śiṣṭānāmapi sā devī saptarṣīṇāṃ mahātmanām | patnīsarūpatāṃ kṛtvā ramayāmāsa pāvakam

Taking the likeness of the wives of the other great-souled Seven Sages as well, the goddess made love to Agni.

Verse 16 (3.227.16)

दिव्यरूपमरुन्धत्याः कर्तुं न शकितं तया । तस्यास्तपःप्रभावेण भर्तृशुश्रूषणेन च ॥

divyarūpamarundhatyāḥ kartuṃ na śakitaṃ tayā | tasyāstapaḥprabhāveṇa bhartṛśuśrūṣaṇena ca

But she could not take on the divine form of Arundhati, because of the power of Arundhati's austerity and her devoted service to her husband.

Verse 17 (3.227.17)

षट्कृत्वस्तत्तु निक्षिप्तमग्ने रेतः कुरुत्तम । तस्मिन्कुण्डे प्रतिपदि कामिन्या स्वाहया तदा ॥

ṣaṭkṛtvastattu nikṣiptamagne retaḥ kuruttama | tasminkuṇḍe pratipadi kāminyā svāhayā tadā

Six times, best of the Kurus, the love-filled Svaha cast Agni's seed into that pit, on the first day of the lunar fortnight.

Note on the text: Corrected तस्मन्कुण्डे → तस्मिन्कुण्डे (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign, CE tasmin kuṇḍe).

Verse 18 (3.227.18)

तत्स्कन्नं तेजसा तत्र संवृतं जनयत्सुतम् । ऋषिभिः पूजितं स्कन्नमनयन्स्कन्दतां ततः ॥

tatskannaṃ tejasā tatra saṃvṛtaṃ janayatsutam | ṛṣibhiḥ pūjitaṃ skannamanayanskandatāṃ tataḥ

That spilled seed, enclosed there by its own fiery power, brought forth a son. The sages honoured the spilled one (skanna), and so they brought him to be called Skanda.

Note on the text: Spacing restored: तत्रसंवृतंजनयत्सुतम् → तत्र संवृतं जनयत्सुतम् (words run together in Wikisource). CE reads saṃbhṛtaṃ for संवृतं and anayat for अनयन्.

Verse 19 (3.227.19)

षट्शिरा द्विगुणश्रोत्रो द्वादशाक्षिभुजक्रमः । एकग्रीवस्त्वेककायः कुमारः समपद्यत ॥

ṣaṭśirā dviguṇaśrotro dvādaśākṣibhujakramaḥ | ekagrīvastvekakāyaḥ kumāraḥ samapadyata

A boy came into being with six heads, twice as many ears, twelve eyes and twelve arms in due order, but one neck and one body.

Note on the text: Corrected द्वादशाक्षिभूजक्रमः → द्वादशाक्षिभुजक्रमः (misprint in Wikisource; भुज "arm", CE dvādaśākṣibhujakramaḥ). Removed a stray zero-width non-joiner in षट्शिरा.

Verse 20 (3.227.20)

द्वितीयायामभिव्यक्तस्तृतीयायां शिशुर्बभौ । अङ्गप्रत्यङ्गसंभूतश्चतुर्थ्यामभवद्गुहः ॥

dvitīyāyāmabhivyaktastṛtīyāyāṃ śiśurbabhau | aṅgapratyaṅgasaṃbhūtaścaturthyāmabhavadguhaḥ

On the second day he took visible shape, on the third he shone as an infant, and on the fourth Guha was complete in every limb.

Verse 21 (3.227.21)

लोहिताभ्रेण महता संवृतः सह विद्युता । लोहिताभ्रे सुमहति भाति सूर्य इवोदितः ॥

lohitābhreṇa mahatā saṃvṛtaḥ saha vidyutā | lohitābhre sumahati bhāti sūrya ivoditaḥ

Wrapped in a great red cloud shot with lightning, he shone in that vast red cloud like the risen sun.

Verse 22 (3.227.22)

गृहीतं तु धनुस्तेन विपुलं रोमहर्षणम् । न्यस्तं यत्त्रिपुरघ्नेन सुरारिविनिकृन्तनम् ॥

gṛhītaṃ tu dhanustena vipulaṃ romaharṣaṇam | nyastaṃ yattripuraghnena surārivinikṛntanam

He seized the huge, hair-raising bow that the slayer of Tripura had laid down, the bow that cuts down the enemies of the gods.

Note on the text: Corrected यत्रिपुरघ्नेन → यत्त्रिपुरघ्नेन (misprint in Wikisource; dropped त, CE yat tripuraghnena).

Verse 23 (3.227.23)

तद्गृहीत्वा धनुःश्रेष्ठं ननाद बलवांस्तदा । संमोहयन्निमाँल्लोकान्गुहस्त्रीन्सचराचरान् ॥

tadgṛhītvā dhanuḥśreṣṭhaṃ nanāda balavāṃstadā | saṃmohayannimām̐llokānguhastrīnsacarācarān

Taking up that finest of bows, the mighty Guha roared, bewildering these three worlds with all that moves and does not move.

Verse 24 (3.227.24)

तस्य तं निनदं श्रुत्वा महामेघौघनिःस्वनम् । उत्पेततुर्महानागौ चित्रश्चैरावतश्च ह ॥

tasya taṃ ninadaṃ śrutvā mahāmeghaughaniḥsvanam | utpetaturmahānāgau citraścairāvataśca ha

Hearing that roar, loud as the thunder of massed great clouds, the two great nagas Chitra and Airavata sprang up.

Note on the text: Corrected तस् तं → तस्य तं (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct, CE tasya taṃ).

Verse 25 (3.227.25)

तावापतन्तौ संप्रेक्ष्य स बालोऽर्कसमद्युतिः । द्वाभ्यां गृहीत्वा पाणिभ्यां शक्तिं चान्येन पाणिना ॥

tāvāpatantau saṃprekṣya sa bālo'rkasamadyutiḥ | dvābhyāṃ gṛhītvā pāṇibhyāṃ śaktiṃ cānyena pāṇinā

Seeing them rush at him, the boy, radiant as the sun, seized them with two hands, took a spear in another hand,

Note on the text: Spacing restored: संप्रेक्ष्यस → संप्रेक्ष्य स (words run together in Wikisource). This verse is CE 3.214.23ab–cd, which reads bālārkasamadyutiḥ.

Verse 26 (3.227.26)

अपरेणाग्निदायादस्ताम्रचूडं भुजेन सः । महाकायमुपश्लिष्टं कुक्कुटं बलिनां वरम् । गृहीत्वा व्यनदद्भीमं चिक्रीड च महाभुजः ॥

apareṇāgnidāyādastāmracūḍaṃ bhujena saḥ | mahākāyamupaśliṣṭaṃ kukkuṭaṃ balināṃ varam | gṛhītvā vyanadadbhīmaṃ cikrīḍa ca mahābhujaḥ

and with yet another arm the son of Agni grasped a huge red-crested cock that clung to him, the best of strong birds. Holding it, the mighty-armed one gave a terrible roar and played.

Note on the text: First line is CE 3.214.23ef; the rest is 3.214.24.

Verse 27 (3.227.27)

द्वाभ्यां भुजाभ्यां बलवान्गृहीत्वा शङ्खमुत्तमम् । प्राध्मापयत भूतानां त्रासनं बलिनामपि । द्वाभ्यां भुजाभ्यामाकाशं बहुशो निजघान सः ॥

dvābhyāṃ bhujābhyāṃ balavāngṛhītvā śaṅkhamuttamam | prādhmāpayata bhūtānāṃ trāsanaṃ balināmapi | dvābhyāṃ bhujābhyāmākāśaṃ bahuśo nijaghāna saḥ

With two arms the mighty one took up a splendid conch and blew it, a sound to terrify all beings, even the strong; and with two arms he struck at the sky again and again.

Note on the text: Corrected प्राध्मापयत् भूतानां → प्राध्मापयत भूतानां (misprint in Wikisource; the line is a syllable short and the sandhi is wrong, CE prādhmāpayata bhūtānāṃ). Restored the closing सः to the third line from CE 3.214.26ab (Wikisource drops it, leaving the line a syllable short). First two lines are CE 3.214.25; the third is 3.214.26ab.

Verse 28 (3.227.28)

क्रीडन्भाति महासेनस्त्रींल्लोकान्वदनैः पिबन् । पर्वताग्रेऽप्रमेयात्मा रश्मिमानुदये यथा ॥

krīḍanbhāti mahāsenastrīṃllokānvadanaiḥ piban | parvatāgre'prameyātmā raśmimānudaye yathā

At play, Mahasena of immeasurable spirit shone on the mountain-top as though drinking up the three worlds with his mouths, like the rayed sun at its rising.

Note on the text: Corrected पिवन् → पिबन् (misprint in Wikisource; व for ब, CE piban). This verse is CE 3.214.26cd–ef.

Verse 29 (3.227.29)

स तस्य पर्वतस्याग्रे निषण्णोऽद्भुतविक्रमः । व्यलोकयदमेयात्मा मुखैर्नानाविधैर्दिशः ॥

sa tasya parvatasyāgre niṣaṇṇo'dbhutavikramaḥ | vyalokayadameyātmā mukhairnānāvidhairdiśaḥ

Seated on the summit of that mountain, he of wondrous valour and boundless spirit surveyed the quarters with his many different faces.

Note on the text: Corrected तस् → तस्य (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct, CE tasya). This verse is CE 3.214.27ab–cd.

Verse 30 (3.227.30)

स पश्यन्विविधान्भावांश्चकार निनदं पुनः । तस्य तं निनदं श्रुत्वा न्यपतन्बहुधा जनाः । भीताश्चोद्विग्नमनसस्तमेव शरणं ययुः ॥

sa paśyanvividhānbhāvāṃścakāra ninadaṃ punaḥ | tasya taṃ ninadaṃ śrutvā nyapatanbahudhā janāḥ | bhītāścodvignamanasastameva śaraṇaṃ yayuḥ

Gazing on all the various things, he roared once more. Hearing that roar, people fell down in many places; frightened and troubled at heart, they went to him alone for refuge.

Note on the text: Corrected भीताश्चोद्विग्रमनसस् → भीताश्चोद्विग्नमनसस् (misprint in Wikisource; ग्र for ग्न, CE codvignamanasas). First line is CE 3.214.27ef; the rest is 3.214.28.

Verse 31 (3.227.31)

ये तु तं संश्रिता देवं नानावर्णास्तदा जनाः । तानप्याहुः पारिषदान्ब्राह्मणाः सुमहाबलान् ॥

ye tu taṃ saṃśritā devaṃ nānāvarṇāstadā janāḥ | tānapyāhuḥ pāriṣadānbrāhmaṇāḥ sumahābalān

Those people of many colours who then took refuge with the god, the brahmins call his attendants, the Parishadas, of very great strength.

Note on the text: Corrected ये तुं संश्रिता → ये तु तं संश्रिता (misprint in Wikisource; a syllable dropped, CE ye tu taṃ saṃśritā).

Verse 32 (3.227.32)

स तूत्थाय महाबाहुरुपसान्त्व्य च ताञ्जनान् । धनुर्विकृष्य व्यसृजद्बाणाञ्श्वेते महागिरौ ॥

sa tūtthāya mahābāhurupasāntvya ca tāñjanān | dhanurvikṛṣya vyasṛjadbāṇāñśvete mahāgirau

Rising, the mighty-armed one comforted those people, drew his bow and loosed arrows at the great White Mountain.

Verse 33 (3.227.33)

बिभेद स शरैः शैलं क्रौञ्चं हिमवतः सुतम् । तेन हंसाश्च गृध्राश्च मेरुं गच्छन्ति पर्वतम् ॥

bibheda sa śaraiḥ śailaṃ krauñcaṃ himavataḥ sutam | tena haṃsāśca gṛdhrāśca meruṃ gacchanti parvatam

With his arrows he split Krauncha, the mountain who is the son of Himavat; through that cleft the swans and vultures fly to Mount Meru.

Note on the text: Corrected विभेद → बिभेद (misprint in Wikisource; व for ब in the perfect of bhid, CE bibheda).

Verse 34 (3.227.34)

स विशीर्णोऽपतच्छैलो भृशमार्तस्वरान्रुवन् ॥

sa viśīrṇo'patacchailo bhṛśamārtasvarānruvan

Shattered, the mountain fell, crying out loudly in pain.

Note on the text: Corrected भृशमार्तस्वराव्रुवन् → भृशमार्तस्वरान्रुवन् (misprint in Wikisource; CE ārtasvarān ruvan). A single line as printed: it is CE 3.214.32ab, and the next verse's first line is 3.214.32cd.

Verse 35 (3.227.35)

तस्मिन्निपतिते त्वन्ये नेदुः शैला भृशं भयात् । घोरमार्तस्वरं चक्रुर्दृष्ट्वा क्रौञ्चं विदारितम् ॥

tasminnipatite tvanye neduḥ śailā bhṛśaṃ bhayāt | ghoramārtasvaraṃ cakrurdṛṣṭvā krauñcaṃ vidāritam

When it had fallen, the other mountains cried out in great fear; seeing Krauncha split open, they raised a terrible cry of distress.

Note on the text: Removed the backtick and quote marks around the added line (Wikisource's marks for a line outside the critical text). First line is CE 3.214.32cd; the second line is not in the critical edition's constituted text (vulgate; its apparatus gives it as 3.214.32*1062, reading sarve for चक्रुः).

Verse 36 (3.227.36)

स तं नादं भृशार्तानां श्रुत्वाऽपि बलिनां वरः । न प्राव्यधदमेयात्मा शक्तिमुद्यम्य चानदत् ॥

sa taṃ nādaṃ bhṛśārtānāṃ śrutvā'pi balināṃ varaḥ | na prāvyadhadameyātmā śaktimudyamya cānadat

Though he heard the cry of the sorely stricken, that best of the mighty, of boundless spirit, did not strike at them; he raised his spear and roared.

Note on the text: Spacing restored: सतं → स तं, बलिनांवरः → बलिनां वरः (words run together in Wikisource). CE reads na prāvyathat ("was not shaken") for न प्राव्यधत्; the Wikisource reading is kept.

Verse 37 (3.227.37)

सा तदा विमला शक्तिः क्षिप्ता तेन महात्मना । बिभेद शिखरं घोरं श्वेतस्य तरसा गिरेः ॥

sā tadā vimalā śaktiḥ kṣiptā tena mahātmanā | bibheda śikharaṃ ghoraṃ śvetasya tarasā gireḥ

Then the gleaming spear, hurled by that great being, swiftly split the fearsome peak of the White Mountain.

Note on the text: Corrected श्वेतस् → श्वेतस्य (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct, CE śvetasya).

Verse 38 (3.227.38)

स तेनाभिहतो दीर्णो गिरिः श्वेतोऽचलैः सह । पलायत महीं त्यक्त्वा भीतस्तस्मान्महात्मनः ॥

sa tenābhihato dīrṇo giriḥ śveto'calaiḥ saha | palāyata mahīṃ tyaktvā bhītastasmānmahātmanaḥ

Struck and cleft by it, the White Mountain, together with the other hills, left the earth and fled in fear of that great being.

Verse 39 (3.227.39)

ततः प्रव्यथिता भूमिर्व्यशीर्यत समन्ततः । आर्ता स्कन्दं समासाद्य पुनर्बलवती बभौ ॥

tataḥ pravyathitā bhūmirvyaśīryata samantataḥ | ārtā skandaṃ samāsādya punarbalavatī babhau

Then the earth, shaken, split apart on every side; in her distress she came to Skanda, and once more she stood strong.

Verse 40 (3.227.40)

पर्वताश्च नमस्कृत्य तमेव पृथिवीं गताः । अथैनमभजल्लोकः स्कन्दं शुक्लस्य पञ्चमीम् ॥

parvatāśca namaskṛtya tameva pṛthivīṃ gatāḥ | athainamabhajallokaḥ skandaṃ śuklasya pañcamīm

The mountains too bowed to him and returned to the earth. And from then on the world has worshipped Skanda on the fifth day of the bright fortnight.

Note on the text: Spacing restored: नमस्कृत्यतमेव → नमस्कृत्य तमेव (words run together in Wikisource).