The Sages' Wives Cast Off; Indra Battles Skanda

Verse 1 (3.228.1)

तस्मिञ्जाते महासत्त्वे महासेने महाबले । समुत्तस्थुर्महोत्पाता घोररूपाः पृथग्विधाः ॥

tasmiñjāte mahāsattve mahāsene mahābale | samuttasthurmahotpātā ghorarūpāḥ pṛthagvidhāḥ

When that mighty being was born, Mahasena of great strength, terrible portents of many kinds arose.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension; its apparatus gives these lines as 3.215.1*1063).

Verse 2 (3.228.2)

स्त्रीपुंसोर्विपरीतं च तथा द्वन्द्वानि यानि च । ग्रहा दीप्ता दिशः खं च ररास च मही भृशम् ॥

strīpuṃsorviparītaṃ ca tathā dvandvāni yāni ca | grahā dīptā diśaḥ khaṃ ca rarāsa ca mahī bhṛśam

Men and women turned against each other, and so did the pairs of opposites such as cold and heat; the planets, the quarters and the sky blazed, and the earth groaned loudly.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension; its apparatus gives these lines as 3.215.1*1063).

Verse 3 (3.228.3)

ऋषयश्च महाघोरान्दृष्ट्वोत्पातान्समन्ततः । अकुर्वञ्शान्तिमुद्विग्ना लोकानां लोकभावनाः ॥

ṛṣayaśca mahāghorāndṛṣṭvotpātānsamantataḥ | akurvañśāntimudvignā lokānāṃ lokabhāvanāḥ

Seeing these dreadful portents on every side, the sages, who sustain the worlds, were troubled and performed rites to bring peace to the worlds.

Verse 4 (3.228.4)

निवसन्ति वने ये तु तस्मिंश्चैत्ररथे जनाः । तेऽब्रुवन्नेष नोऽनर्थः पावकेनाहृतो महान् । संगम्य षड्भिः पत्नीभिः सप्तर्षीणामिति स्म ह ॥

nivasanti vane ye tu tasmiṃścaitrarathe janāḥ | te'bruvanneṣa no'narthaḥ pāvakenāhṛto mahān | saṃgamya ṣaḍbhiḥ patnībhiḥ saptarṣīṇāmiti sma ha

But the people who lived in that Chaitraratha forest said: "This great calamity has been brought upon us by Agni, through his union with six wives of the Seven Sages."

Verse 5 (3.228.5)

अपरे गरुडीमाहुस्तयाऽनर्थोऽयमाहृतः । यैर्दृष्टा सा तदा देवी तस्या रूपेण गच्छती ॥

apare garuḍīmāhustayā'nartho'yamāhṛtaḥ | yairdṛṣṭā sā tadā devī tasyā rūpeṇa gacchatī

Others, who had seen the goddess as she went in the form of a bird, said it was the garudi bird that had brought this calamity.

Note on the text: This verse is CE 3.215.3ab–cd.

Verse 6 (3.228.6)

न तु तत्स्वाहया कर्म कृतं जानाति वै जनः ॥

na tu tatsvāhayā karma kṛtaṃ jānāti vai janaḥ

But no one knew that the deed had been done by Svaha.

Note on the text: Spacing restored: कृतंजानाति → कृतं जानाति (words run together in Wikisource). A single line as printed: CE 3.215.3ef.

Verse 7 (3.228.7)

सुपर्णी तु वचः श्रुत्वा ममायं तनयस्त्विति । उपगम्य शनैः स्कन्दमाहाहं जननी तव ॥

suparṇī tu vacaḥ śrutvā mamāyaṃ tanayastviti | upagamya śanaiḥ skandamāhāhaṃ jananī tava

Hearing this talk, the bird-woman thought, "This is my son," and going softly up to Skanda she said, "I am your mother."

Verse 8 (3.228.8)

अथ सप्तर्षयः श्रुत्वा जातं पुत्रं महौजसम् । तत्यजुः षट् तदा पत्नीर्विना देवीमरुन्धतीम् । षड्भिरेव तदा जातमाहुस्तद्वनवासिनः ॥

atha saptarṣayaḥ śrutvā jātaṃ putraṃ mahaujasam | tatyajuḥ ṣaṭ tadā patnīrvinā devīmarundhatīm | ṣaḍbhireva tadā jātamāhustadvanavāsinaḥ

Then the Seven Sages, hearing that a son of great might had been born, cast off six of their wives, all but the lady Arundhati, for the forest-dwellers said the child had been born of those six.

Note on the text: First two lines are CE 3.215.5; the third is 3.215.6ab.

Verse 9 (3.228.9)

सप्तर्षीनाह च स्वाहा मम पुत्रोऽयमित्युत । अहं हेतुर्नैतदेवमिति राजन्पुनः पुनः ॥

saptarṣīnāha ca svāhā mama putro'yamityuta | ahaṃ heturnaitadevamiti rājanpunaḥ punaḥ

And Svaha told the Seven Sages again and again, O king: "This is my son. I am the cause; it is not as they say."

Note on the text: This verse is CE 3.215.6cd–ef, which reads ahaṃ jāne ("I know") for अहं हेतुः; the Wikisource reading is kept.

Verse 10 (3.228.10)

विश्वामित्रस्तु कृत्वेष्टिं सप्तर्षीणां महामुनिः । पावकं कामसंतप्तमदृष्टः पृष्ठतोऽन्वगात् । तत्तेन निखिलं सर्वमवबुध्य यथातथम् ॥

viśvāmitrastu kṛtveṣṭiṃ saptarṣīṇāṃ mahāmuniḥ | pāvakaṃ kāmasaṃtaptamadṛṣṭaḥ pṛṣṭhato'nvagāt | tattena nikhilaṃ sarvamavabudhya yathātatham

Now the great sage Vishvamitra, after finishing the Seven Sages' sacrifice, had followed Agni unseen as he burned with desire, and so he had come to know all of it exactly as it happened.

Verse 11 (3.228.11)

विश्वामित्रस्तु प्रथमं कुमारं शरणं गतः । स्तवं दिव्यं संप्रचक्रे महासेनस्य चापि सः ॥

viśvāmitrastu prathamaṃ kumāraṃ śaraṇaṃ gataḥ | stavaṃ divyaṃ saṃpracakre mahāsenasya cāpi saḥ

Vishvamitra was the first to go to the boy for refuge, and he composed a divine hymn of praise to Mahasena.

Note on the text: Corrected महासेनस् → महासेनस्य (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct, CE mahāsenasya).

Verse 12 (3.228.12)

मङ्गलानि च सर्वाणि कौमाराणि त्रयोदश । जातकर्मादिकास्तस्य क्रियाश्चक्रे महामुनिः ॥

maṅgalāni ca sarvāṇi kaumārāṇi trayodaśa | jātakarmādikāstasya kriyāścakre mahāmuniḥ

The great sage performed for him all thirteen auspicious rites of childhood, beginning with the birth ceremony.

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

Verse 13 (3.228.13)

षड्वक्त्रस्य तु माहात्म्यं कुक्कुटस्य तु साधनम् । शक्त्या देव्याः साधनं च तथा पारिषदामपि ॥

ṣaḍvaktrasya tu māhātmyaṃ kukkuṭasya tu sādhanam | śaktyā devyāḥ sādhanaṃ ca tathā pāriṣadāmapi

He proclaimed the greatness of the six-faced one, and performed the consecration of the cock, of the goddess Shakti, the spear, and likewise of his attendants.

Note on the text: Corrected पड्वक्रस्य → षड्वक्त्रस्य, मांहात्म्यं → माहात्म्यं and पारिषदामषि → पारिषदामपि (misprints in Wikisource; प/ष confusion, क्र for क्त्र and a stray anusvara, CE ṣaḍvaktrasya tu māhātmyaṃ … pāriṣadām api).

Verse 14 (3.228.14)

विश्वामित्रश्चकारैतत्कर्म लोकहिताय वै । तस्मादृषिः कुमारस्य विश्वामित्रोऽभवत्प्रियः ॥

viśvāmitraścakāraitatkarma lokahitāya vai | tasmādṛṣiḥ kumārasya viśvāmitro'bhavatpriyaḥ

Vishvamitra did all this for the good of the world; and so the sage Vishvamitra became dear to Kumara.

Note on the text: Corrected कुमारस् → कुमारस्य (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct, CE kumārasya).

Verse 15 (3.228.15)

अन्वजानाच्च स्वाहाया रूपान्यत्वं महामुनिः । अब्रवीच्च मुनीन्सर्वान्नापराध्यन्ति वै स्त्रियः । श्रुत्वा तु तत्वतस्तस्मात्ते पत्नीः सर्वतोऽत्यजन् ॥

anvajānācca svāhāyā rūpānyatvaṃ mahāmuniḥ | abravīcca munīnsarvānnāparādhyanti vai striyaḥ | śrutvā tu tatvatastasmātte patnīḥ sarvato'tyajan

The great sage knew of Svaha's change of form, and he told all the sages, "Your wives have done no wrong." Yet even after hearing the truth from him, they abandoned their wives altogether.

Note on the text: Corrected सर्वाननापराध्यन्ति → सर्वान्नापराध्यन्ति (misprint in Wikisource; the negative न was garbled, CE sarvān nāparādhyanti) and सर्वतोत्यजन् → सर्वतोऽत्यजन् (missing avagraha, CE sarvato 'tyajan).

Verse 16 (3.228.16)

स्कन्दं श्रुत्वा तदा देवा वासवं सहिताऽब्रुवन् । अविषह्यबलं स्कन्दं जहि शक्राशु माचिरम् ॥

skandaṃ śrutvā tadā devā vāsavaṃ sahitā'bruvan | aviṣahyabalaṃ skandaṃ jahi śakrāśu māciram

When the gods heard of Skanda, they came together and said to Vasava: "Kill Skanda, whose strength is past enduring, Shakra, and kill him quickly, without delay.

Note on the text: Corrected अविषह्यं वलं → अविषह्यबलं (misprint in Wikisource; व for ब and a stray anusvara breaking the compound, CE aviṣahyabalaṃ) and माचिर् → माचिरम् (truncated, CE māciram).

Verse 17 (3.228.17)

यदि वा न निहंस्येनमद्येन्द्रोऽयं भविष्यति । त्रैलोक्यं सन्निगृह्यास्मांस्त्वां च शक्र महाबलः ॥

yadi vā na nihaṃsyenamadyendro'yaṃ bhaviṣyati | trailokyaṃ sannigṛhyāsmāṃstvāṃ ca śakra mahābalaḥ

If you do not kill him, this mighty one will be Indra this very day, and he will hold down the three worlds, and us, and you too, Shakra."

Note on the text: Corrected महाबला → महाबलः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped visarga, CE mahābalaḥ). Speaker: the gods' words fill the whole verse (no heading in Wikisource).

Verse 18 (3.228.18)

स तानुवाच व्यथितो बालोऽयं सुमहाबलः । स्रष्टारमपि लोकानां युधि विक्रम्य नाशयेत् । न बालमुत्सहे हन्तुमिति शक्रः प्रभाषते ॥

sa tānuvāca vyathito bālo'yaṃ sumahābalaḥ | sraṣṭāramapi lokānāṃ yudhi vikramya nāśayet | na bālamutsahe hantumiti śakraḥ prabhāṣate

Troubled, he answered them: "This boy is very strong. In battle he could overpower and destroy even the creator of the worlds. I do not dare to kill a child." So Shakra spoke.

Note on the text: Corrected वालोऽयं → बालोऽयं (misprint in Wikisource; व for ब, CE bālo 'yaṃ). Removed the opening square bracket before the third line. The third line is not in the critical edition's constituted text (vulgate; its apparatus gives it as 3.215.15*1065).

Verse 19 (3.228.19)

तेऽब्रुवन्नास्ति ते वीर्यं यत एवं प्रभाषसे । सर्वास्त्वद्याभिगच्छन्तु स्कन्दं लोकस्य मातरः ॥

te'bruvannāsti te vīryaṃ yata evaṃ prabhāṣase | sarvāstvadyābhigacchantu skandaṃ lokasya mātaraḥ

They replied: "You have no courage, since you talk like this. Let all the Mothers of the world go against Skanda today,

Note on the text: Corrected प्रभासे → प्रभाषसे (misprint in Wikisource; a syllable dropped, apparatus prabhāṣase) and removed the closing square bracket and a doubled daṇḍa. The first line is not in the critical edition's constituted text (vulgate; its apparatus gives it as 3.215.15*1065); the second is CE 3.215.16ab.

Verse 20 (3.228.20)

कामवीर्या घ्नन्तु चैनं तथेत्युक्त्वा च ता ययुः । तमप्रतिबलं दृष्ट्वा विषण्णवदनास्तु ताः ॥

kāmavīryā ghnantu cainaṃ tathetyuktvā ca tā yayuḥ | tamapratibalaṃ dṛṣṭvā viṣaṇṇavadanāstu tāḥ

and let them, with power to do whatever they wish, kill him." Saying "So be it," they went. But seeing that he was beyond any strength of theirs, their faces fell.

Note on the text: First line is CE 3.215.16cd; the second is 3.215.17ab.

Verse 21 (3.228.21)

अशक्योऽयं विचिन्त्यैवं तमेव शरणं ययुः । ऊचुश्चैनं त्वमस्माकं पुत्रोऽस्माभिर्धृतं जगत् ॥

aśakyo'yaṃ vicintyaivaṃ tameva śaraṇaṃ yayuḥ | ūcuścainaṃ tvamasmākaṃ putro'smābhirdhṛtaṃ jagat

Thinking, "He cannot be overcome," they went to him for refuge, and said to him: "You are our son. The world is upheld by us."

Note on the text: Spacing restored: अशक्योऽयंविचिन्त्यैवं → अशक्योऽयं विचिन्त्यैवं (words run together in Wikisource). Likewise धृतंजगत् → धृतं जगत्. First line is CE 3.215.17cd; the second is 3.215.18ab.

Verse 22 (3.228.22)

अभिनन्द्य ततः सर्वाः प्रस्नुताः स्नेहविक्लवाः । तासां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पातुकामः स्तनान्प्रभुः ॥

abhinandya tataḥ sarvāḥ prasnutāḥ snehaviklavāḥ | tāsāṃ tadvacanaṃ śrutvā pātukāmaḥ stanānprabhuḥ

Then they all greeted him, overcome with love, milk flowing from their breasts. Hearing their words, the lord wished to drink at their breasts.

Note on the text: Corrected स्नेहविक्लबाः → स्नेहविक्लवाः (misprint in Wikisource; ब for व, CE snehaviklavāḥ). Removed the square brackets around the second line, which is not in the critical edition's constituted text (vulgate; its apparatus gives it as 3.215.18*1066). First line is CE 3.215.18cd, which reads abhinandasva naḥ ("welcome us") for अभिनन्द्य ततः.

Verse 23 (3.228.23)

ताः संपूज्य महासेनः कामांश्चासां प्रदाय सः । अपश्यदग्निमायान्तं पितरं बलिनां बली ॥

tāḥ saṃpūjya mahāsenaḥ kāmāṃścāsāṃ pradāya saḥ | apaśyadagnimāyāntaṃ pitaraṃ balināṃ balī

Mahasena honoured them and granted their wishes; then that strongest of the strong saw his father Agni approaching.

Note on the text: Spacing restored: महासेनःकामांश्चासां → महासेनः कामांश्चासां (words run together in Wikisource).

Verse 24 (3.228.24)

स तु संपूजितस्तेन सह मातृगणेन ह । परिवार्य महासेनं रक्षमाणः स्थितः शिवः ॥

sa tu saṃpūjitastena saha mātṛgaṇena ha | parivārya mahāsenaṃ rakṣamāṇaḥ sthitaḥ śivaḥ

Honoured by his son, the auspicious Agni stood with the host of Mothers around Mahasena, guarding him.

Verse 25 (3.228.25)

सर्वासां या तु मातॄणां नारी क्रोधसमुद्भवा । धात्री स्वपुत्रवत्स्कन्दं शूलहस्ताऽभ्यरक्षत ॥

sarvāsāṃ yā tu mātṝṇāṃ nārī krodhasamudbhavā | dhātrī svaputravatskandaṃ śūlahastā'bhyarakṣata

Of all the Mothers, the one who was born of anger, spear in hand, guarded Skanda as a nurse guards her own son.

Verse 26 (3.228.26)

लोहितस्योदधेः कन्या क्रूरा लोहितभोजना । परिष्वज्य महासेनं पुत्रवत्पर्यरक्षत ॥

lohitasyodadheḥ kanyā krūrā lohitabhojanā | pariṣvajya mahāsenaṃ putravatparyarakṣata

The cruel daughter of the Ocean of Blood, who feeds on blood, embraced Mahasena and guarded him like a son.

Verse 27 (3.228.27)

अग्निर्भूत्वा नैगमेयश्छागवक्त्रो बहुप्रजः । रमयामास शैलस्थं बालं क्रीडनकैरिव ॥

agnirbhūtvā naigameyaśchāgavaktro bahuprajaḥ | ramayāmāsa śailasthaṃ bālaṃ krīḍanakairiva

Agni, becoming Naigameya, goat-faced and rich in offspring, amused the child on the mountain as if with toys.

Note on the text: Corrected छागवक्रो → छागवक्त्रो and शैलस्तं → शैलस्थं (misprints in Wikisource; क्र for क्त्र and त for थ, CE chāgavaktro … śailasthaṃ).

Verse 28 (3.228.28)

ग्रहाः सोपग्रहाश्चैव ऋषयो मातरस्तथा । हुताशनमुखाश्चैव दृप्ताः पारिषदां गणाः ॥

grahāḥ sopagrahāścaiva ṛṣayo mātarastathā | hutāśanamukhāścaiva dṛptāḥ pāriṣadāṃ gaṇāḥ

The planets and lesser planets, the sages and the Mothers, and the proud hosts of attendants with the fire at their head,

Note on the text: Corrected ब्रहाः → ग्रहाः (misprint in Wikisource; CE grahāḥ, matching सोपग्रहाः).

Verse 29 (3.228.29)

एते चान्ये च बहवो घोरास्त्रिदिववासिनः । परिवार्य महासेनं स्थिता मातृगणैः सह ॥

ete cānye ca bahavo ghorāstridivavāsinaḥ | parivārya mahāsenaṃ sthitā mātṛgaṇaiḥ saha

these and many other fearsome dwellers of heaven stood around Mahasena together with the hosts of Mothers.

Verse 30 (3.228.30)

संदिग्धं विजयं दृष्ट्वा विजयेप्सुः सुरेश्वरः । आरुह्यैरावतस्कन्धं प्रययौ दैवतैः सह ॥

saṃdigdhaṃ vijayaṃ dṛṣṭvā vijayepsuḥ sureśvaraḥ | āruhyairāvataskandhaṃ prayayau daivataiḥ saha

Seeing his victory in doubt, the lord of the gods, eager for victory, mounted Airavata's shoulders and set out with the deities.

Note on the text: This verse is CE 3.216.3ab–cd.

Verse 31 (3.228.31)

आदाय वज्रं बलवान्सर्वैर्देवगणैर्वृतः । विजिघांसुर्महासेनमिन्द्रस्तूर्णतरं ययौ ॥

ādāya vajraṃ balavānsarvairdevagaṇairvṛtaḥ | vijighāṃsurmahāsenamindrastūrṇataraṃ yayau

Taking up the thunderbolt, the mighty Indra, surrounded by all the hosts of gods, advanced with all speed, bent on killing Mahasena.

Note on the text: Corrected बवान् → बलवान् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara, apparatus balavān). The first line is not in the critical edition's constituted text (vulgate; its apparatus gives it as 3.216.3*1067); the second is CE 3.216.3ef.

Verse 32 (3.228.32)

इन्द्रस्तस्य महावेगं दृष्ट्वाऽद्भुतपराक्रमम् । विस्मितश्चाभवद्राजन्देवानीकमचोदयत् ॥

indrastasya mahāvegaṃ dṛṣṭvā'dbhutaparākramam | vismitaścābhavadrājandevānīkamacodayat

Seeing Skanda's great speed and wondrous valour, Indra was amazed, O king, and urged on the army of the gods,

Note on the text: Removed the backtick and quote marks (Wikisource's marks for lines outside the critical text). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). Nothing like it appears in the critical edition's text or apparatus for this passage.

Verse 33 (3.228.33)

उग्रं तं च महानादं देवानीकं महाप्रभम् । विचित्रध्वजसन्नाहं नानावाहनकार्मुकम् ॥

ugraṃ taṃ ca mahānādaṃ devānīkaṃ mahāprabham | vicitradhvajasannāhaṃ nānāvāhanakārmukam

that fierce, loud-roaring army of the gods, blazing with splendour, with banners and armour of many hues, with every kind of mount and bow,

Note on the text: Removed the backtick and quote marks (Wikisource's marks for lines outside the critical text). This verse is CE 3.216.4ab–cd, which reads ugraṃ tac ca mahāvegaṃ for उग्रं तं च महानादं.

Verse 34 (3.228.34)

प्रवराम्बरसंवीतं श्रिया जुष्टमलंकृतम् । विजिघांसुं तमायान्तं कुमारः शक्रमन्वयात् ॥

pravarāmbarasaṃvītaṃ śriyā juṣṭamalaṃkṛtam | vijighāṃsuṃ tamāyāntaṃ kumāraḥ śakramanvayāt

clad in the finest garments, glorious and adorned. As Shakra came on, intent on killing him, Kumara went out to meet him.

Note on the text: First line is CE 3.216.4ef; the second is 3.216.5ab (CE tadāyāntaṃ … abhyayāt).

Verse 35 (3.228.35)

वियत्पतिः स शक्रस्तु द्रुतमायान्महाबलः । संहर्षयन्देवसेनां जिघांसुः पावकात्मजम् ॥

viyatpatiḥ sa śakrastu drutamāyānmahābalaḥ | saṃharṣayandevasenāṃ jighāṃsuḥ pāvakātmajam

And Shakra, the mighty lord of the sky, came on swiftly, rousing the army of the gods, intent on killing the son of the fire.

Note on the text: Corrected संहर्पयन् → संहर्षयन् (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष, CE saṃharṣayan). This verse is CE 3.216.5cd–ef, which reads vinadan pathi for वियत्पतिः स.

Verse 36 (3.228.36)

संपूज्यमानस्त्रिदशैस्तथैव परमर्षिभिः । समीपमथ संप्राप्तो वह्निपुत्रस्य वासवः ॥

saṃpūjyamānastridaśaistathaiva paramarṣibhiḥ | samīpamatha saṃprāpto vahniputrasya vāsavaḥ

Honoured by the gods and by the supreme sages, Vasava came near to Agni's son.

Verse 37 (3.228.37)

सिंहनादं ततश्चक्रे देवेशः सहितैः सुरैः । गुहोऽपि शब्दं तं श्रुत्वा व्यनदत्सागरो यथा ॥

siṃhanādaṃ tataścakre deveśaḥ sahitaiḥ suraiḥ | guho'pi śabdaṃ taṃ śrutvā vyanadatsāgaro yathā

Then the lord of the gods, together with the gods, let out a lion's roar; and Guha, hearing that sound, roared like the ocean.

Note on the text: Corrected व्यनदात् → व्यनदत् (misprint in Wikisource; wrong vowel length, CE vyanadat). Spacing restored: गुहोऽपिशब्दं → गुहोऽपि शब्दं (words run together in Wikisource).

Verse 38 (3.228.38)

तस्य शब्देन महता समुद्धूतोदधिप्रभम् । बभ्राम तत्र तत्रैव दैवसैन्यमचेतनम् ॥

tasya śabdena mahatā samuddhūtodadhiprabham | babhrāma tatra tatraiva daivasainyamacetanam

At his mighty roar, like the heaving of the ocean, the army of the gods reeled about where it stood, senseless.

Note on the text: Corrected वभ्राम → बभ्राम (misprint in Wikisource; व for ब, CE babhrāma). Spacing restored: तत्रतत्रैव → तत्र तत्रैव (words run together in Wikisource).

Verse 39 (3.228.39)

जिघांसूनुपसंप्राप्तान्देवान्दृष्ट्वा स पावकिः । विससर्ज मुखात्क्रुद्धः प्रवृद्धाः पावकार्चिषः ॥

jighāṃsūnupasaṃprāptāndevāndṛṣṭvā sa pāvakiḥ | visasarja mukhātkruddhaḥ pravṛddhāḥ pāvakārciṣaḥ

Seeing the gods come close, eager to kill him, the son of Agni in his anger sent forth from his mouth great swelling flames of fire,

Note on the text: Corrected जिधांसून् → जिघांसून् (misprint in Wikisource; ध for घ, CE jighāṃsūn). Spacing restored: सपावकिः → स पावकिः (words run together in Wikisource). This verse is CE 3.216.9ab–cd.

Verse 40 (3.228.40)

अदहद्देवसैन्यानि वेपमानानि भूतले ॥

adahaddevasainyāni vepamānāni bhūtale

and burned the armies of the gods as they trembled on the ground.

Note on the text: A single line as printed: CE 3.216.9ef (CE tā devasainyāny adahan veṣṭamānāni).

Verse 41 (3.228.41)

ते प्रदीप्तशिरोदेहाः प्रदीप्तायुधवाहनाः । प्रच्युताः सहसा भान्ति चित्रास्तारागणा इव ॥

te pradīptaśirodehāḥ pradīptāyudhavāhanāḥ | pracyutāḥ sahasā bhānti citrāstārāgaṇā iva

With heads and bodies ablaze, their weapons and mounts aflame, they fell suddenly and shone like bright clusters of stars.

Verse 42 (3.228.42)

दह्यमानाः प्रपन्नास्ते शरणं पावकात्मजम् । देवा वज्रधरं त्यक्त्वा ततः शान्तिमुपागताः ॥

dahyamānāḥ prapannāste śaraṇaṃ pāvakātmajam | devā vajradharaṃ tyaktvā tataḥ śāntimupāgatāḥ

As they burned, the gods abandoned the wielder of the thunderbolt and took refuge with Agni's son; then they found peace.

Note on the text: Corrected शानतिम् → शान्तिम् (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct, CE śāntim). Spacing restored: त्यक्त्वाततः → त्यक्त्वा ततः (words run together in Wikisource).

Verse 43 (3.228.43)

त्यक्तो देवैस्ततः स्कन्दे वज्रं शक्रो न्यपातयत् ॥

tyakto devaistataḥ skande vajraṃ śakro nyapātayat

Deserted by the gods, Shakra then hurled his thunderbolt at Skanda.

Note on the text: A single line as printed: CE 3.216.12ab (CE 'bhyavāsṛjat for न्यपातयत्).

Verse 44 (3.228.44)

तद्विसृष्टं जघानाशु पार्श्वं स्कन्दस्य दक्षिणम् । बिभेद च महाराज पार्श्वं तस्य महात्मनः ॥

tadvisṛṣṭaṃ jaghānāśu pārśvaṃ skandasya dakṣiṇam | bibheda ca mahārāja pārśvaṃ tasya mahātmanaḥ

Released, it swiftly struck Skanda's right side, and it pierced the side of that great being, O great king.

Note on the text: Corrected पर्श्वं → पार्श्वं and विभेद → बिभेद (misprints in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign and व for ब, CE pārśvaṃ … bibheda). This verse is CE 3.216.12cd–ef.

Verse 45 (3.228.45)

वज्रप्रहारात्स्कन्दस्य संजातः पुरुषोऽपरः । युवा काञ्चनसन्नाहः शक्तिधृग्दिव्यकुण्डलः ॥

vajraprahārātskandasya saṃjātaḥ puruṣo'paraḥ | yuvā kāñcanasannāhaḥ śaktidhṛgdivyakuṇḍalaḥ

From the thunderbolt's blow another being was born from Skanda: a young man in golden armour, holding a spear and wearing celestial earrings.

Note on the text: This verse is CE 3.216.13ab–cd.

Verse 46 (3.228.46)

यद्वज्रविशनाज्जातो विशाखस्तेन सोऽभवत् ॥

yadvajraviśanājjāto viśākhastena so'bhavat

Because he was born from the thunderbolt's entering, he became Vishakha.

Note on the text: A single line as printed: CE 3.216.13ef.

Verse 47 (3.228.47)

तं जातमपरं दृष्ट्वा कालानलसमद्युतिम् । भयादिन्द्रस्तु तं स्कन्दं प्राञ्जलिः शरणं गतः ॥

taṃ jātamaparaṃ dṛṣṭvā kālānalasamadyutim | bhayādindrastu taṃ skandaṃ prāñjaliḥ śaraṇaṃ gataḥ

Seeing this second being born, radiant as the fire at the end of time, Indra in fear went to Skanda with joined palms for refuge.

Note on the text: Corrected भयादिनद्रस्तुत तं → भयादिन्द्रस्तु तं (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct and a doubled त that overruns the metre; CE bhayād indras tataḥ).

Verse 48 (3.228.48)

तस्याभयं ददौ स्कन्दः सहसैन्यस्य सत्तम । ततः प्रहृष्टास्त्रिदशा वादित्राण्यभ्यवादयन् ॥

tasyābhayaṃ dadau skandaḥ sahasainyasya sattama | tataḥ prahṛṣṭāstridaśā vāditrāṇyabhyavādayan

Skanda granted him and his army freedom from fear, O best of men; and the gods, overjoyed, struck up their instruments.

Note on the text: Corrected सहसैन्यस् → सहसैन्यस्य (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct, CE sahasainyasya). Spacing restored: तस्याभयंददौ → तस्याभयं ददौ (words run together in Wikisource).

Verse 49 (3.228.49)

स्कन्दपारिषदान्घोराञ्छृणुष्वाद्भुतदर्शनान् । वज्रप्रहारात्स्कन्दस्य जज्ञुस्तत्र कुमारकाः । ये हरन्ति शिशूञ्जातान्गर्भस्थांश्चैव दारुणाः ॥

skandapāriṣadānghorāñchṛṇuṣvādbhutadarśanān | vajraprahārātskandasya jajñustatra kumārakāḥ | ye haranti śiśūñjātāngarbhasthāṃścaiva dāruṇāḥ

Hear now of Skanda's dreadful attendants, wondrous to behold. From the thunderbolt's blow on Skanda, boys were born there, cruel ones who carry off children newly born and those still in the womb.

Note on the text: Corrected पारिषदान्धोराञ् → पारिषदान्घोराञ्, वज्रप्हहारात् → वज्रप्रहारात् and गर्भस्थाश्चैव → गर्भस्थांश्चैव (misprints in Wikisource; ध for घ, a garbled conjunct, and a dropped anusvara that turns the unborn victims into the attackers; CE ghorāñ … vajraprahārāt … garbhasthāṃś caiva).

Verse 50 (3.228.50)

वज्रप्रहारात्कन्याश्च जज्ञिरेऽस्य महाबलाः ॥

vajraprahārātkanyāśca jajñire'sya mahābalāḥ

From the thunderbolt's blow mighty girls too were born to him.

Note on the text: Corrected जज्ञिरेऽस् → जज्ञिरेऽस्य (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct, CE jajñire 'sya). A single line as printed: CE 3.217.2ab.

Verse 51 (3.228.51)

कुमारान्स विशाखं च पुत्रत्वे समकल्पयत् । स भूत्वा भगवान्सङ्ख्ये रक्षंश्छागमुखस्तदा ॥

kumārānsa viśākhaṃ ca putratve samakalpayat | sa bhūtvā bhagavānsaṅkhye rakṣaṃśchāgamukhastadā

He took the boys and Vishakha as his sons. Then the blessed one, becoming goat-faced and guarding them in battle,

Note on the text: Corrected विशखं → विशाखं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign, CE viśākhaṃ). First line is CE 3.217.2cd, which has the boys take Vishakha as their father (kumārāś ca viśākhaṃ taṃ pitṛtve samakalpayan); Wikisource has Skanda take the boys and Vishakha as sons, and that reading is kept. Second line is 3.217.3ab.

Verse 52 (3.228.52)

वृतः कन्यागणैः सर्वैरात्मीयैः सह पुत्रकैः । मातृणां प्रेषितानां च भद्रशाखश्च कोमलैः ॥

vṛtaḥ kanyāgaṇaiḥ sarvairātmīyaiḥ saha putrakaiḥ | mātṛṇāṃ preṣitānāṃ ca bhadraśākhaśca komalaiḥ

surrounded by all the hosts of girls, by his own sons and by the tender children of the Mothers who had been sent, was Bhadrashakha.

Note on the text: Spacing restored: भद्रशाखश्चकोमलैः → भद्रशाखश्च कोमलैः (words run together in Wikisource). First line is CE 3.217.3cd (ātmanīnaiś ca putrakaiḥ); the second is 3.217.4ab, which reads mātṝṇāṃ prekṣatīnāṃ ca bhadraśākhaś ca kauśalaḥ. The Wikisource line (प्रेषितानां, कोमलैः) is kept; its sense is uncertain.

Verse 53 (3.228.53)

ततः कुमारं संजातं स्कन्दमाहुर्जना भुवि । रुद्रमग्निमुखां स्वाहां प्रदेशेषु महाबलाः ॥

tataḥ kumāraṃ saṃjātaṃ skandamāhurjanā bhuvi | rudramagnimukhāṃ svāhāṃ pradeśeṣu mahābalāḥ

Then people on earth called the newborn Skanda Kumara. And in their various lands, mighty men worship Rudra, and Svaha whose mouth is Agni:

Note on the text: First line is CE 3.217.4cd, which reads kumārapitaraṃ (Wikisource's footnote also gives this as the झ reading); the second is 3.217.5ab, which reads rudram agnim umāṃ svāhāṃ … mahābalām (Rudra, Agni, Uma and Svaha). The Wikisource reading अग्निमुखां is kept.

Verse 54 (3.228.54)

यजन्ति पुत्रकामाश्च पुत्रिणश्च सदा जनाः । यास्तास्त्वजनयत्कन्यास्तपो नाम हुताशनः ॥

yajanti putrakāmāśca putriṇaśca sadā janāḥ | yāstāstvajanayatkanyāstapo nāma hutāśanaḥ

those who long for sons, and those who have sons, always worship them. The maidens whom the fire called Tapas had begotten

Note on the text: First line is CE 3.217.5cd; the second is 3.217.6ab.

Verse 55 (3.228.55)

किं करोमीति ताः स्कन्दं संप्राप्ताः समभाषयन् ॥

kiṃ karomīti tāḥ skandaṃ saṃprāptāḥ samabhāṣayan

came to Skanda, and as they spoke with him he asked, "What shall I do for you?"

Note on the text: A single line as printed: CE 3.217.6cd (CE samabhāṣata for समभाषयन्).

Verse 56 (3.228.56)

भवेम सर्वलोकस्य मातरो वयमुत्तमाः । प्रसादात्तव पूज्याश्च प्रियमेतत्कुरुष्व नः ॥

bhavema sarvalokasya mātaro vayamuttamāḥ | prasādāttava pūjyāśca priyametatkuruṣva naḥ

"Let us be the supreme Mothers of the whole world, and by your grace be worshipped. Do us this kindness."

Note on the text: Speaker: the Mothers' words fill the whole verse (no heading in Wikisource; the critical edition prints मातर ऊचुः here).

Verse 57 (3.228.57)

सोऽब्रवीद्बाढमित्येवं भविष्यध्वं पृथग्विधाः । शिवाश्चैवाशिवाश्चैव पुनः पुनरुदारधीः ॥

so'bravīdbāḍhamityevaṃ bhaviṣyadhvaṃ pṛthagvidhāḥ | śivāścaivāśivāścaiva punaḥ punarudāradhīḥ

"So be it," said the noble-minded one, again and again. "You shall be of many kinds, both kindly and unkindly."

Note on the text: Corrected पृथिग्विधाः → पृथग्विधाः and पुनःपुनःरुदारधीः → पुनः पुनरुदारधीः (misprints in Wikisource; a stray vowel sign and a visarga left before a vowel, CE pṛthagvidhāḥ … punaḥ punar udāradhīḥ).

Verse 58 (3.228.58)

अग्निर्भूत्वा ततश्चैनं छागवक्त्रो बहुप्रजः । रमयामास शैलस्थं बालं क्रीडनकैरिव ॥

agnirbhūtvā tataścainaṃ chāgavaktro bahuprajaḥ | ramayāmāsa śailasthaṃ bālaṃ krīḍanakairiva

Then Agni, becoming the goat-faced one, rich in offspring, amused the child on the mountain as if with toys.

Note on the text: Removed the backtick and quote marks (Wikisource's marks for lines outside the critical text). Corrected छागवक्रो → छागवक्त्रो and बलं → बालं (misprints in Wikisource; क्र for क्त्र and a dropped vowel sign, as in verse 27 and CE 3.215.23). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It repeats verse 27 (CE 3.215.23) almost word for word.