The Childhood Deeds of Kartikeya

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.121.1)

नारद उवाच । देवदेव प्रजानाथ ब्रह्मन् सृष्टिकर प्रभो । ततः किमभवत्तत्र तद्वदाऽद्य कृपां कुरु

nārada uvāca devadeva prajānātha brahman sṛṣṭikara prabho tataḥ kimabhavattatra tadvadā'dya kṛpāṁ kuru

Narada said: O god of gods, lord of creatures, O Brahman, creator, Lord! What happened there after that? Tell me that today, showing me your grace.

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.121.2)

ब्रह्मोवाच । तस्मिन्नवसरे तात विश्वामित्रः प्रतापवान् । प्रेरितो विधिना तत्रागच्छत्प्रीतो यदृच्छया

brahmovāca tasminnavasare tāta viśvāmitraḥ pratāpavān prerito vidhinā tatrāgacchatprīto yadṛcchayā

Brahma said: At that time, dear one, the mighty Vishvamitra, impelled by fate, came there of his own accord, gladly.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.121.3)

स दृष्ट्वालौकिकं धाम तत्सुतस्य सुतेजसः । अभवत्पूर्णकामस्तु सुप्रसन्नो ननाम च

sa dṛṣṭvālaukikaṁ dhāma tatsutasya sutejasaḥ abhavatpūrṇakāmastu suprasanno nanāma ca

Seeing the otherworldly splendor of that radiant child, he felt his desires fulfilled, became greatly pleased, and bowed down.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.121.4)

अकरोत्सुनुतिं तस्य सुप्रसन्नेन चेतसा । विधिप्रेरितवाग्भिश्च विश्वामित्रः प्रभाववित्

akarotsunutiṁ tasya suprasannena cetasā vidhipreritavāgbhiśca viśvāmitraḥ prabhāvavit

Vishvamitra, who understood that child's greatness, with a joyful heart, praised him well, his words moved by fate.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.121.5)

ततःसोऽभूत्सुतस्तत्र सुप्रसन्नो महोतिकृत् । सुप्रहस्याद्भुतमहो विश्वामित्रमुवाच च

tataḥso'bhūtsutastatra suprasanno mahotikṛt suprahasyādbhutamaho viśvāmitramuvāca ca

Then that child, greatly pleased and the doer of great wonders, smiling brightly, spoke to Vishvamitra.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.121.6)

शिवसुत उवाच । शिवेच्छया महाज्ञानिन्नकस्मात्त्वमिहागतः । संस्कारं कुरु मे तात यथावद्वेदसम्मितम्

śivasuta uvāca śivecchayā mahājñāninnakasmāttvamihāgataḥ saṁskāraṁ kuru me tāta yathāvadvedasammitam

The son of Shiva said: O greatly wise one, by Shiva's own will you have come here unexpectedly. Perform for me, dear one, the sacraments, exactly as ordained by the Veda.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.121.7)

अद्यारभ्य पुरोधास्त्वं भव मे प्रीतिमावहन् । भविष्यसि सदा पूज्यः सर्वेषां नात्र संशयः

adyārabhya purodhāstvaṁ bhava me prītimāvahan bhaviṣyasi sadā pūjyaḥ sarveṣāṁ nātra saṁśayaḥ

From today, become my priest and bring me joy; you shall ever be worshipped by all — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.121.8)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य सुप्रसन्नो हि गाधिजः । तमुवाचानुदात्तेन स्वरेण च सुविस्मितः

brahmovāca ityākarṇya vacastasya suprasanno hi gādhijaḥ tamuvācānudāttena svareṇa ca suvismitaḥ

Brahma said: Hearing his words, Vishvamitra, son of Gadhi, greatly pleased and astonished, spoke to him in a humble voice.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.121.9)

विश्वामित्र उवाच । शृणु तात न विप्रोऽहं गाधिक्षत्रियबालकः । विश्वामित्रेति विख्यातः क्षत्रियो विप्रसेवकः

viśvāmitra uvāca śṛṇu tāta na vipro'haṁ gādhikṣatriyabālakaḥ viśvāmitreti vikhyātaḥ kṣatriyo viprasevakaḥ

Vishvamitra said: Listen, dear child, I am not a brahmin — I am the son of the kshatriya Gadhi, known as Vishvamitra, a kshatriya who serves brahmins.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.121.10)

इति स्वचरितं ख्यातं मया ते वरबालक । कस्त्वं स्वचरितं ब्रूहि विस्मितायाखिलं हि मे

iti svacaritaṁ khyātaṁ mayā te varabālaka kastvaṁ svacaritaṁ brūhi vismitāyākhilaṁ hi me

Thus, O excellent child, I have told you my own well-known history. Who are you? Tell me your whole story, for I am astonished.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.121.11)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य तत्स्ववृत्तं जगाद ह । ततश्चोवाच सुप्रीत्या गाधिजं तं महोतिकृत्

brahmovāca ityākarṇya vacastasya tatsvavṛttaṁ jagāda ha tataścovāca suprītyā gādhijaṁ taṁ mahotikṛt

Brahma said: Hearing his words, that doer of great wonders told him his own story, and then spoke lovingly to that son of Gadhi.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.121.12)

शिवसुत उवाच । विश्वामित्र वरान्मे त्वं ब्रह्मर्षिर्नात्र संशयः । वसिष्ठाद्याश्च नित्यं त्वां प्रशंसिष्यन्ति चादरात्

śivasuta uvāca viśvāmitra varānme tvaṁ brahmarṣirnātra saṁśayaḥ vasiṣṭhādyāśca nityaṁ tvāṁ praśaṁsiṣyanti cādarāt

The son of Shiva said: O Vishvamitra, by my boon you shall surely become a brahmarshi. Vasishtha and others will forever praise you with respect.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.121.13)

अतस्त्वमाज्ञया मे हि संस्कारं कर्तुमर्हसि । इदं सर्वं सुगोप्यं ते कथनीयं न कुत्रचित्

atastvamājñayā me hi saṁskāraṁ kartumarhasi idaṁ sarvaṁ sugopyaṁ te kathanīyaṁ na kutracit

Therefore, by my command, you are worthy to perform my sacraments. All this must be kept secret by you; it is not to be told anywhere.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.121.14)

ब्रह्मोवाच । ततोऽकार्षीत्स संस्कारं तस्य प्रीत्याऽखिलं यथा । शिवबालस्य देवर्षे वेदोक्तविधिना परम्

brahmovāca tato'kārṣītsa saṁskāraṁ tasya prītyā'khilaṁ yathā śivabālasya devarṣe vedoktavidhinā param

Brahma said: O divine sage, then Vishvamitra lovingly performed the entire sacrament of that child of Shiva, exactly according to the Vedic rites.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.121.15)

शिवबालोपि सुप्रीतो दिव्यज्ञानमदात्परम् । विश्वामित्राय मुनये महोतिकारकः प्रभुः

śivabālopi suprīto divyajñānamadātparam viśvāmitrāya munaye mahotikārakaḥ prabhuḥ

The child of Shiva, greatly pleased, that Lord who works great wonders, gave supreme divine knowledge to the sage Vishvamitra.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.121.16)

पुरोहितं चकारासौ विश्वामित्रं शुचेस्सुतः । तदारभ्य द्विजवरो नानालीलाविशारदः

purohitaṁ cakārāsau viśvāmitraṁ śucessutaḥ tadārabhya dvijavaro nānālīlāviśāradaḥ

That son of the Pure One made Vishvamitra his priest; from then on that excellent brahmin became skilled in manifold divine feats.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.121.17)

इत्थं लीला कृता तेन कथिता सा मया मुने । तल्लीलामपरां तात शृणु प्रीत्या वदाम्यहम्

itthaṁ līlā kṛtā tena kathitā sā mayā mune tallīlāmaparāṁ tāta śṛṇu prītyā vadāmyaham

Thus was this deed performed by him, and told, O sage, by me. Now hear another of his deeds, dear one — I shall tell it with love.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.121.18)

तस्मिन्नवसरे तात श्वेतनामा च सम्प्रति । तत्राऽपश्यत्सुतं दिव्यं निजं परमपावनम्

tasminnavasare tāta śvetanāmā ca samprati tatrā'paśyatsutaṁ divyaṁ nijaṁ paramapāvanam

At that time, dear one, he who is named Shveta now beheld there his own divine and supremely holy son.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.121.19)

ततस्तं पावको गत्वा दृष्ट्वालिङ्ग्य चुचुम्ब च । पुत्रेति चोक्त्वा तस्मै स शस्त्रं शक्तिं ददौ च सः

tatastaṁ pāvako gatvā dṛṣṭvāliṅgya cucumba ca putreti coktvā tasmai sa śastraṁ śaktiṁ dadau ca saḥ

Then Pavaka, going to him and seeing him, embraced and kissed him; and calling him "son," he gave him the weapon named Shakti.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.121.20)

गुहस्तां शक्तिमादाय तच्छृङ्गं चारुरोह ह । तं जघान तया शक्त्या शृङ्गो भुवि पपात सः

guhastāṁ śaktimādāya tacchṛṅgaṁ cāruroha ha taṁ jaghāna tayā śaktyā śṛṅgo bhuvi papāta saḥ

Guha, taking hold of that Shakti, mounted upon it; with that Shakti he struck down the demon Shringa, who fell to the earth.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.121.21)

दशपद्ममिता वीरा राक्षसाः पूर्वमागताः । तद्वधार्थं द्रुतं नष्टा बभूवुस्तत्प्रहारतः

daśapadmamitā vīrā rākṣasāḥ pūrvamāgatāḥ tadvadhārthaṁ drutaṁ naṣṭā babhūvustatprahārataḥ

Ten padmas — a vast host — of heroic rakshasas had come there before, intent on killing him; they were all swiftly destroyed by his blow.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.121.22)

हाहाकारो महानासीच्चकम्पे साचला मही । त्रैलोक्यं च सुरेशानःसदेवस्तत्र चागमत्

hāhākāro mahānāsīccakampe sācalā mahī trailokyaṁ ca sureśānaḥsadevastatra cāgamat

A great cry of woe arose, and the earth, together with its mountains, trembled; the three worlds shook, and the lord of the gods came there, with the gods.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.121.23)

दक्षिणे तस्य पार्श्वे च वज्रेण स जघान च । शाखनामा ततो जातः पुमांश्चैको महाबलः

dakṣiṇe tasya pārśve ca vajreṇa sa jaghāna ca śākhanāmā tato jātaḥ pumāṁścaiko mahābalaḥ

Indra struck him on the right side with the thunderbolt; from that, one mighty man named Shakha was born.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.121.24)

पुनश्शक्रो जघानाशु वामपार्श्वे हि तं तदा । वज्रेणाऽन्यः पुमाञ्जातो विशाखाख्योऽपरो बली

punaśśakro jaghānāśu vāmapārśve hi taṁ tadā vajreṇā'nyaḥ pumāñjāto viśākhākhyo'paro balī

Then Shakra again quickly struck him on the left side with the thunderbolt; another mighty man was born, named Vishakha.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.121.25)

ततस्तद्धृदयं शक्रो जघान पविना तदा । परोऽभून्नैगमोपाख्यः पुमांस्तद्वन्महाबलः

tatastaddhṛdayaṁ śakro jaghāna pavinā tadā paro'bhūnnaigamopākhyaḥ pumāṁstadvanmahābalaḥ

Then Shakra struck his heart with the thunderbolt; another man, equally mighty, was born, called Naigameya.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.121.26)

तदा स्कन्दादिचत्वारो महावीरा महाबलाः । इन्द्रं हन्तुं द्रुतं जग्मुः सोऽयं तच्छरणं ययौ

tadā skandādicatvāro mahāvīrā mahābalāḥ indraṁ hantuṁ drutaṁ jagmuḥ so'yaṁ taccharaṇaṁ yayau

Then those four great heroes of great might, headed by Skanda, went swiftly to slay Indra; and Indra went for refuge to Skanda himself.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.121.27)

शक्रः ससामरगणो भयं प्राप्य गृहात्ततः । ययौ स्वलोकं चकितो न भेदं ज्ञातवान्मुने

śakraḥ sasāmaragaṇo bhayaṁ prāpya gṛhāttataḥ yayau svalokaṁ cakito na bhedaṁ jñātavānmune

Shakra, together with the hosts of gods, seized with fear, went from his home to his own realm, terrified; O sage, he could not understand the truth of it.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.121.28)

स बालकस्तु तत्रैव तस्थाऽऽवानन्दसंयुतः । पूर्ववन्निर्भयस्तात नानालीलाकरः प्रभुः

sa bālakastu tatraiva tasthā''vānandasaṁyutaḥ pūrvavannirbhayastāta nānālīlākaraḥ prabhuḥ

That child, however, remained right there, filled with joy, fearless as before — the Lord who performs manifold divine sports.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.121.29)

तस्मिन्नवसरे तत्र कृत्तिकाख्याश्च षट् स्त्रियः । स्नातुं समागता बालं ददृशुस्तं महाप्रभुम्

tasminnavasare tatra kṛttikākhyāśca ṣaṭ striyaḥ snātuṁ samāgatā bālaṁ dadṛśustaṁ mahāprabhum

At that time, six women named the Krittikas, who had come there to bathe, saw that great child.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.121.30)

ग्रहीतुं तं मनश्चक्रुःसर्वास्ता कृत्तिकाः स्त्रियः । वादो बभूव तासां तद्ग्रहणेच्छापरो मुने

grahītuṁ taṁ manaścakruḥsarvāstā kṛttikāḥ striyaḥ vādo babhūva tāsāṁ tadgrahaṇecchāparo mune

All those Krittika women set their minds on taking him for their own; and, O sage, a dispute arose among them, each desiring to have him.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.121.31)

तद्वादशमनार्थं स षण्मुखानि चकार ह । पपौ दुग्धं च सर्वासां तुष्टास्ता अभवन्मुने

tadvādaśamanārthaṁ sa ṣaṇmukhāni cakāra ha papau dugdhaṁ ca sarvāsāṁ tuṣṭāstā abhavanmune

To settle their dispute, he made himself six-faced, and drank the milk of all of them; and, O sage, they were all satisfied.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.121.32)

तन्मनोगतिमाज्ञाय सर्वास्ताः कृत्तिकास्तदा । तमादाय ययुर्लोकं स्वकीयं मुदिता मुने

tanmanogatimājñāya sarvāstāḥ kṛttikāstadā tamādāya yayurlokaṁ svakīyaṁ muditā mune

Understanding thereby his intent, all the Krittikas then, taking him with them, went joyfully to their own realm, O sage.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.121.33)

तं बालकं कुमाराख्यं स्तनं दत्त्वा स्तनार्थिने । वर्द्धयामासुरीशस्य सुतं सूर्याधिकप्रभम्

taṁ bālakaṁ kumārākhyaṁ stanaṁ dattvā stanārthine varddhayāmāsurīśasya sutaṁ sūryādhikaprabham

Giving the breast to that child, named Kumara, who longed for it, they nurtured the Lord's son, whose splendor exceeded the sun.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.121.34)

न चक्रुर्बालकं याश्च लोचनानामगोचरम् । प्राणेभ्योऽपि प्रेमपात्रं यः पोष्टा तस्य पुत्रकः

na cakrurbālakaṁ yāśca locanānāmagocaram prāṇebhyo'pi premapātraṁ yaḥ poṣṭā tasya putrakaḥ

They never let the child out of the sight of their eyes, for a child is dearer than life itself to the one who rears him as her own.

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.121.35)

यानि यानि च वस्त्राणि त्रैलोक्ये दुर्लभानि च । ददुस्तस्मै च ताः प्रेम्णा भूषणानि वराणि वै

yāni yāni ca vastrāṇi trailokye durlabhāni ca dadustasmai ca tāḥ premṇā bhūṣaṇāni varāṇi vai

Whatever garments were rare to find in the three worlds, and whatever the finest ornaments, they lovingly gave to him.

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.121.36)

दिने दिने ताः पुपुषुर्बालकं तं महाप्रभुम् । प्रशंसितानि स्वादूनि भोजयित्वा विशेषतः

dine dine tāḥ pupuṣurbālakaṁ taṁ mahāprabhum praśaṁsitāni svādūni bhojayitvā viśeṣataḥ

Day after day they nourished that great child, feeding him especially with praised and delicious foods.

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.121.37)

अथैकस्मिन् दिने तात स बालः कृत्तिकात्मजः । गत्वा देवसभां दिव्यां सुचरित्रं चकार ह

athaikasmin dine tāta sa bālaḥ kṛttikātmajaḥ gatvā devasabhāṁ divyāṁ sucaritraṁ cakāra ha

Then one day, dear one, that child, the son of the Krittikas, went to the divine assembly of the gods and performed a wondrous deed.

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.121.38)

स्वमहो दर्शयामास देवेभ्यो हि महाद्भुतम् । सविष्णुभ्योऽखिलेभ्यश्च महोतिकरबालकः

svamaho darśayāmāsa devebhyo hi mahādbhutam saviṣṇubhyo'khilebhyaśca mahotikarabālakaḥ

That wonder-working child displayed his own great and wondrous majesty to the gods, together with Vishnu and all of them.

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.121.39)

तं दृष्ट्वा सकलास्ते वै साच्युताःसर्षयः सुराः । विस्मयं प्रापुरत्यन्तं पप्रच्छुस्तं च बालकम्

taṁ dṛṣṭvā sakalāste vai sācyutāḥsarṣayaḥ surāḥ vismayaṁ prāpuratyantaṁ papracchustaṁ ca bālakam

Seeing him, all the gods, together with Achyuta and the sages, were struck with the greatest astonishment, and questioned that child.

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.121.40)

को भवानिति तच्छ्रुत्वा न किञ्चित्स जगाद ह । स्वालयं स जगामाशु गुप्तस्तस्थौ हि पूर्ववत्

ko bhavāniti tacchrutvā na kiñcitsa jagāda ha svālayaṁ sa jagāmāśu guptastasthau hi pūrvavat

"Who are you?" — hearing this, he said nothing at all; he went swiftly to his own abode and remained hidden, as before.