The Slaying of Taraka and Karttikeya's Victory Celebration

Verse 1 (skanda.1.30.1)

॥लोमश उवाच॥ वल्गमानं तमायांतं तारका सुरमोजसा॥ आजघान च वज्रेण इंद्रो मतिमतां वरः

||lomaśa uvāca|| valgamānaṃ tamāyāṃtaṃ tārakā suramojasā|| ājaghāna ca vajreṇa iṃdro matimatāṃ varaḥ

As Taraka came leaping forward with great might, Indra, foremost among the wise, struck him with his thunderbolt.

Verse 2 (skanda.1.30.2)

तेन वज्रप्रहारेण तारको विह्वलीकृतः पतितोऽपि समुत्थाय शक्त्या तं प्राहरद्द्विपम्

tena vajraprahāreṇa tārako vihvalīkṛtaḥ patito'pi samutthāya śaktyā taṃ prāharaddvipam

By that stroke of the thunderbolt Taraka was stunned; yet even after falling, he rose up again and struck at Indra's elephant with his spear.

Verse 3 (skanda.1.30.3)

पुरंदरं गजस्थं हि अपातया भूतले॥ हाहाकारो महानासीत्पतिते च पुरंदरे

puraṃdaraṃ gajasthaṃ hi apātayā bhūtale|| hāhākāro mahānāsītpatite ca puraṃdare

He hurled down Purandara, seated upon his elephant, to the ground; and a great cry of dismay arose when Purandara fell.

Verse 4 (skanda.1.30.4)

तारकेणापि तत्रैव यत्कृतं तच्छृणु प्रभो॥ पतितं च पदाक्रम्य हस्ताद्वज्रं प्रगृह्य च

tārakeṇāpi tatraiva yatkṛtaṃ tacchṛṇu prabho|| patitaṃ ca padākramya hastādvajraṃ pragṛhya ca

Now hear, O lord, what Taraka did there next: setting his foot upon the fallen Indra, he seized the thunderbolt from his hand.

Verse 5 (skanda.1.30.5)

हतं देवेंद्रमालोक्य तारको रिपुसूदनः॥ वज्रघातेन महताऽताडयत्तु पुरंदरम्

hataṃ deveṃdramālokya tārako ripusūdanaḥ|| vajraghātena mahatā'tāḍayattu puraṃdaram

Seeing Devendra thus struck down, Taraka, that slayer of foes, struck Purandara again with a mighty blow of the very thunderbolt.

Verse 6 (skanda.1.30.6)

त्रिशूलमुद्यम्य महाबलस्तदा स वीरभद्रो रुषितः पुरंदरम्॥ संरक्षमाणो हि जघान तारकं शूलेन दैत्यं च महाप्रभेण

triśūlamudyamya mahābalastadā sa vīrabhadro ruṣitaḥ puraṃdaram|| saṃrakṣamāṇo hi jaghāna tārakaṃ śūlena daityaṃ ca mahāprabheṇa

Then mighty Virabhadra, raising his trident in fury, to protect Purandara, struck the daitya Taraka with that most radiant trident.

Verse 7 (skanda.1.30.7)

शूलप्रहाराभिहतो निपपात महीतले॥ पतितोऽपि महातेजास्तारकः पुनरुत्थितः

śūlaprahārābhihato nipapāta mahītale|| patito'pi mahātejāstārakaḥ punarutthitaḥ

Struck by that blow of the trident, he fell to the ground; yet even having fallen, the greatly radiant Taraka rose up again.

Verse 8 (skanda.1.30.8)

जघान परया शक्त्या वीरभद्रं तदोरसि॥ वीरभद्रोपि पतितः शक्तिघातेन तस्य वै

jaghāna parayā śaktyā vīrabhadraṃ tadorasi|| vīrabhadropi patitaḥ śaktighātena tasya vai

He struck Virabhadra full upon the chest with his mighty spear; and Virabhadra too fell, from the blow of that spear.

Verse 9 (skanda.1.30.9)

सगणाश्चैव देवाश्च गंधर्वोरगराक्षसाः॥ हाहाकारेण महता चुक्रुशुश्च पुनःपुनः

sagaṇāścaiva devāśca gaṃdharvoragarākṣasāḥ|| hāhākāreṇa mahatā cukruśuśca punaḥpunaḥ

The ganas, the gods, the gandharvas, nagas and rakshasas all cried out again and again in a great wail of dismay.

Verse 10 (skanda.1.30.10)

तदोत्थितः सहसा महाबलः स वीरभद्रो द्विषतां निहंता॥ त्रिशूलमुद्यम्य तडित्प्रकाशं जाज्वल्यमानं प्रभया निरंतरम्॥ स्वरोचिषा भासितदिग्वितानं सूयदुबिंबाग्न्युडुमण्डलाभम्

tadotthitaḥ sahasā mahābalaḥ sa vīrabhadro dviṣatāṃ nihaṃtā|| triśūlamudyamya taḍitprakāśaṃ jājvalyamānaṃ prabhayā niraṃtaram|| svarociṣā bhāsitadigvitānaṃ sūyadubiṃbāgnyuḍumaṇḍalābham

Then that mighty destroyer of foes, Virabhadra, rose up at once, raising his trident, radiant as lightning, ceaselessly blazing with its own splendour, illumining the whole canopy of the sky with its own light, resplendent like the orb of the sun, like fire, like the circle of stars.

Verse 11 (skanda.1.30.11)

त्रिशूलेन तदा यावद्धंतुकामो महाबलः॥ निवारितः कुमारेण मावधीस्त्वं महामते

triśūlena tadā yāvaddhaṃtukāmo mahābalaḥ|| nivāritaḥ kumāreṇa māvadhīstvaṃ mahāmate

But even as that mighty one, eager to slay with his trident, made ready, he was stopped by Kumara: 'Do not slay him, O wise one.'

Verse 12 (skanda.1.30.12)

जगर्ज च महातेजाः कार्त्तिकेयो महाबलः

jagarja ca mahātejāḥ kārttikeyo mahābalaḥ

Then the greatly radiant and mighty Karttikeya roared aloud.

Verse 13 (skanda.1.30.13)

तदा जयेत्यभिहितो भूतैराकाशसंस्थितैः॥ शक्त्या परमया वीरस्तारकं हंतुमुद्यतः

tadā jayetyabhihito bhūtairākāśasaṃsthitaiḥ|| śaktyā paramayā vīrastārakaṃ haṃtumudyataḥ

Then, hailed with cries of 'Victory!' by the spirits stationed in the sky, that hero, with his supreme spear, made ready to slay Taraka.

Verse 14 (skanda.1.30.14)

तारकस्य कुमारस्य संग्रामस्तत्र दुःसहः॥ जातस्ततो महाघोरः सर्वभूतभयंकरः

tārakasya kumārasya saṃgrāmastatra duḥsahaḥ|| jātastato mahāghoraḥ sarvabhūtabhayaṃkaraḥ

Then there arose between Taraka and Kumara a battle unbearable to behold, a battle most terrible, striking fear into every living being.

Verse 15 (skanda.1.30.15)

शक्तिहस्तौ च तौ वीरौ युयुधाते परस्परम्॥ शक्तिभ्यां भिन्नहस्तौ तौ महासाहससंयुतौ

śaktihastau ca tau vīrau yuyudhāte parasparam|| śaktibhyāṃ bhinnahastau tau mahāsāhasasaṃyutau

Those two heroes, spears in hand, fought against each other; their very hands torn by their own spears, both full of tremendous daring.

Verse 16 (skanda.1.30.16)

परस्परं वंचयंतौ सिंहाविव महाबलौ॥ वैतालिकीं समाश्रित्य तथा वै खेचरीं गतिम्

parasparaṃ vaṃcayaṃtau siṃhāviva mahābalau|| vaitālikīṃ samāśritya tathā vai khecarīṃ gatim

Deceiving each other like two mighty lions, resorting now to the vetalika technique, now to movement through the sky,

Verse 17 (skanda.1.30.17)

पार्वतं मतमाश्रित्य शक्त्या शक्तिं निजघ्नतुः॥ एभिर्मतैर्महावीरौ चक्रतुर्युद्धमुत्तमम्

pārvataṃ matamāśritya śaktyā śaktiṃ nijaghnatuḥ|| ebhirmatairmahāvīrau cakraturyuddhamuttamam

and resorting also to the Parvata method, they struck spear against spear; by these various techniques the two great heroes waged a supreme battle.

Verse 18 (skanda.1.30.18)

अन्योन्यसाधकौ भूत्वा महाबलपराक्रमौ॥ जघ्नतुः शक्तिधाराभी रणे रणविशारदौ

anyonyasādhakau bhūtvā mahābalaparākramau|| jaghnatuḥ śaktidhārābhī raṇe raṇaviśāradau

Each striving to overcome the other, mighty in strength and valour, those two, skilled in warfare, struck each other with the sharp edges of their spears.

Verse 19 (skanda.1.30.19)

मूर्ध्नि कण्ठे तथा बाह्वोर्जान्वोश्चैव कटीतटे॥ वक्षस्युरसि पृष्ठे च चिच्छिदतुः परस्परम्

mūrdhni kaṇṭhe tathā bāhvorjānvoścaiva kaṭītaṭe|| vakṣasyurasi pṛṣṭhe ca cicchidatuḥ parasparam

Upon the head, the throat, the arms, the knees, the flanks, the chest, and the back, they cut into one another.

Verse 20 (skanda.1.30.20)

तदा तौ युध्यमानौ च हन्तुकामौ महाबलौ॥ प्रेक्षका ह्यभवन्सर्वे देवगन्धर्वगुह्यकाः

tadā tau yudhyamānau ca hantukāmau mahābalau|| prekṣakā hyabhavansarve devagandharvaguhyakāḥ

As those two mighty ones fought on, each intent on slaying the other, all the gods, gandharvas and guhyakas became mere onlookers.

Verse 21 (skanda.1.30.21)

ऊचुः परस्परं सर्वे कोऽस्मिन्युद्धे विजेष्यते॥ तदा नभोगता वाणी उवाच परिसांत्व्य वै

ūcuḥ parasparaṃ sarve ko'sminyuddhe vijeṣyate|| tadā nabhogatā vāṇī uvāca parisāṃtvya vai

All of them said to one another, 'Who shall be victorious in this battle?' Then a voice from the sky spoke, comforting them:

Verse 22 (skanda.1.30.22)

तारकं हि सुराश्चाद्य कुमारोऽयं हनिष्यति॥ मा शोच्यतां सुराः सर्वैः सुखेन स्थीयतां दिवि

tārakaṃ hi surāścādya kumāro'yaṃ haniṣyati|| mā śocyatāṃ surāḥ sarvaiḥ sukhena sthīyatāṃ divi

'O gods, this very day this Kumara shall slay Taraka; grieve not, O gods — remain at ease in heaven.'

Verse 23 (skanda.1.30.23)

श्रुत्वा तदा तां गगने समीरितां तदैव वाचं प्रमथैः परीतः॥ कुमारकस्तं प्रति हंतुकामो दैत्याधिपं तारकमुग्ररूपम्

śrutvā tadā tāṃ gagane samīritāṃ tadaiva vācaṃ pramathaiḥ parītaḥ|| kumārakastaṃ prati haṃtukāmo daityādhipaṃ tārakamugrarūpam

Hearing that word uttered in the sky, Kumara, surrounded by his ganas, resolved at once to slay Taraka, the lord of daityas of terrible form.

Verse 24 (skanda.1.30.24)

शक्त्या तया महाबाहुराजघान स्तनांतरे॥ तारकं ह्यसुरश्रेष्ठं कुमारो बलवत्तरः

śaktyā tayā mahābāhurājaghāna stanāṃtare|| tārakaṃ hyasuraśreṣṭhaṃ kumāro balavattaraḥ

With that spear, the mighty-armed Kumara, ever more powerful, struck Taraka, foremost of asuras, full upon the chest.

Verse 25 (skanda.1.30.25)

तं प्रहारमना दृत्य तारको दैत्यपुंगवः॥ कुमारं चाऽपि संक्रुद्धः स्वशक्त्या चाजघान वै

taṃ prahāramanā dṛtya tārako daityapuṃgavaḥ|| kumāraṃ cā'pi saṃkruddhaḥ svaśaktyā cājaghāna vai

Enduring that blow, Taraka, foremost of daityas, filled with fury, struck back at Kumara with his own spear.

Verse 26 (skanda.1.30.26)

तेन शक्तिप्रहारेण शांकरिर्मूर्च्छितोऽभवत्॥ मुहूर्ताच्चेतनां प्राप्तः स्तूयमानो महर्षिभिः

tena śaktiprahāreṇa śāṃkarirmūrcchito'bhavat|| muhūrtāccetanāṃ prāptaḥ stūyamāno maharṣibhiḥ

By that stroke of the spear, Shankara's son fell into a swoon; but after a moment he regained consciousness, praised by the great sages.

Verse 27 (skanda.1.30.27)

यथा सिंहो मदोन्मत्तो हंतुकामस्तथैव च॥ कुमारस्तारकं दैत्यमाजघान प्रतापवान्

yathā siṃho madonmatto haṃtukāmastathaiva ca|| kumārastārakaṃ daityamājaghāna pratāpavān

Just as a lion, maddened with fury, is bent upon slaying its prey, so too the glorious Kumara struck the daitya Taraka.

Verse 28 (skanda.1.30.28)

एवं परस्परेणैव कुमारश्चैव तारकः॥ युयुधातेऽतिसंरब्धौ शक्तियुद्धपरायणौ

evaṃ paraspareṇaiva kumāraścaiva tārakaḥ|| yuyudhāte'tisaṃrabdhau śaktiyuddhaparāyaṇau

Thus, against one another, Kumara and Taraka fought on, both filled with fury, both intent on their spear-duel.

Verse 29 (skanda.1.30.29)

अभ्यासपरमावास्तामन्योन्यविजिगीषया॥ तथा तौ युध्यमानौ च चित्ररूपौ तपस्विनौ

abhyāsaparamāvāstāmanyonyavijigīṣayā|| tathā tau yudhyamānau ca citrarūpau tapasvinau

Both, each eager to conquer the other, remained absorbed wholly in their skill; and thus the two fought on, marvellous in form, austere in discipline.

Verse 30 (skanda.1.30.30)

धाराभिश्च अणीभीश्च सुप्रयुक्तौ च जघ्नतुः॥ अवलोकपराः सर्वे देवगन्धर्वकिन्नराः

dhārābhiśca aṇībhīśca suprayuktau ca jaghnatuḥ|| avalokaparāḥ sarve devagandharvakinnarāḥ

With sharp edges and points, well-aimed, they struck at each other; while all the gods, gandharvas and kinnaras remained absorbed only in watching.

Verse 31 (skanda.1.30.31)

विस्मयं परमं प्राप्ता नोचुः किंचन तस्य वै॥ न ववौ च तदावायुर्निष्प्रभोऽभूद्दिवाकरः

vismayaṃ paramaṃ prāptā nocuḥ kiṃcana tasya vai|| na vavau ca tadāvāyurniṣprabho'bhūddivākaraḥ

Overcome with the utmost wonder, they could say nothing at all of it; the wind ceased to blow, and the sun himself grew dim.

Verse 32 (skanda.1.30.32)

हिमालयोऽथ मेरुश्च श्वेतकूटश्च दर्दुरः॥ मलयोऽथ महाशैलो मैनाको विंध्यपर्वतः

himālayo'tha meruśca śvetakūṭaśca darduraḥ|| malayo'tha mahāśailo maināko viṃdhyaparvataḥ

Himalaya, and Meru, Shvetakuta and Dardura, Malaya, the great mountain Mainaka, and the Vindhya mountain,

Verse 33 (skanda.1.30.33)

लोकालोकौ महाशैलौ मानसोत्तरपर्वतः॥ कैलासो मन्दरो माल्यो गन्धमादन एव च

lokālokau mahāśailau mānasottaraparvataḥ|| kailāso mandaro mālyo gandhamādana eva ca

Lokaloka, that great mountain, and Manasottara, Kailasa, Mandara, Malya, and Gandhamadana too —

Verse 34 (skanda.1.30.34)

उदयाद्रिर्महेंद्रश्च तथैवास्तगिरिर्महान्

udayādrirmaheṃdraśca tathaivāstagirirmahān

— Udayagiri, Mahendra, and likewise the great mountain of the setting sun, Astagiri.

Verse 35 (skanda.1.30.35)

एते चान्ये च बहवः पर्वताश्च महाप्रभाः॥ स्नेहार्द्दितास्तदाजग्मुः कुमारं च परीप्सवः

ete cānye ca bahavaḥ parvatāśca mahāprabhāḥ|| snehārdditāstadājagmuḥ kumāraṃ ca parīpsavaḥ

These and many other mountains of great splendour, moved by affection, came there then, eager for Kumara's welfare.

Verse 36 (skanda.1.30.36)

ततः स दृष्ट्वा तान्सर्वान्भयभीतांश्च शांकरिः॥ पर्वतान्गिरिजापुत्रो बभाषे प्रतिबोधयन्

tataḥ sa dṛṣṭvā tānsarvānbhayabhītāṃśca śāṃkariḥ|| parvatāngirijāputro babhāṣe pratibodhayan

Then Shankara's son, Girija's own child, seeing all of them struck with fear, spoke to the mountains, reassuring them:

Verse 37 (skanda.1.30.37)

॥कुमार उवाच॥ मा खिद्यत महाभागा मा चिंता क्रियतां नगाः॥ घातयाम्यद्य पापिष्ठं सर्वेषामिह पश्यताम्

||kumāra uvāca|| mā khidyata mahābhāgā mā ciṃtā kriyatāṃ nagāḥ|| ghātayāmyadya pāpiṣṭhaṃ sarveṣāmiha paśyatām

Kumara said: 'Do not grieve, O most blessed ones; be not anxious, O mountains — this very day, before the eyes of you all, I shall slay this most sinful one.'

Verse 38 (skanda.1.30.38)

एवं समाश्वास्य तदा मनस्वी तान्पर्वतान्देवगणैः समेतान्॥ प्रणम्य शंभुं मनसा हरिप्रियः स्वां मातरं चैव नतः कुमारः

evaṃ samāśvāsya tadā manasvī tānparvatāndevagaṇaiḥ sametān|| praṇamya śaṃbhuṃ manasā haripriyaḥ svāṃ mātaraṃ caiva nataḥ kumāraḥ

Having thus comforted the mountains, gathered there with the hosts of gods, that resolute Kumara, dear to Hari, bowed in his mind to Shambhu, and bowed also to his own mother.

Verse 39 (skanda.1.30.39)

कार्त्तिकेयस्ततः शक्त्या निचकर्त रिपोः शिरः॥ तच्छिरो निपपातोर्व्यां तारकस्य च तत्क्षणात्॥ एवं स जयमापेदे कार्त्तिकेयो महाप्रभुः

kārttikeyastataḥ śaktyā nicakarta ripoḥ śiraḥ|| tacchiro nipapātorvyāṃ tārakasya ca tatkṣaṇāt|| evaṃ sa jayamāpede kārttikeyo mahāprabhuḥ

Then Karttikeya, with his spear, severed the head of his foe; and at that very instant Taraka's head fell upon the earth. Thus did the great lord Karttikeya attain victory.

Verse 40 (skanda.1.30.40)

ददृशुस्तं सुरगणा ऋषयो गुह्यकाः खगाः॥ किंनराश्चारणाः सर्पास्तथा चैवाप्सरो गणाः

dadṛśustaṃ suragaṇā ṛṣayo guhyakāḥ khagāḥ|| kiṃnarāścāraṇāḥ sarpāstathā caivāpsaro gaṇāḥ

The hosts of gods beheld him, and the sages, guhyakas, birds, kinnaras, charanas, serpents, and the companies of apsaras likewise.

Verse 41 (skanda.1.30.41)

हर्षेण महताविष्टास्तुष्टुवुस्तं कुमारकम्॥ विद्याधर्यश्च ननृतुर्गायकाश्च जगुस्तदा

harṣeṇa mahatāviṣṭāstuṣṭuvustaṃ kumārakam|| vidyādharyaśca nanṛturgāyakāśca jagustadā

Filled with immense joy, they praised that Kumara; the vidyadhari women danced, and the singers sang.

Verse 42 (skanda.1.30.42)

एवं विजयमापन्नं दृष्ट्वा सर्वे मुदा युताः॥ ततो हर्षात्समागम्य स्वांकमारोप्य चात्मजम्

evaṃ vijayamāpannaṃ dṛṣṭvā sarve mudā yutāḥ|| tato harṣātsamāgamya svāṃkamāropya cātmajam

Seeing him thus victorious, all were filled with joy; then, coming forward in delight, Shiva took his son upon his own lap.

Verse 43 (skanda.1.30.43)

परिष्वज्य तु गाढेन गिरिजापि तुतोष वै॥ स्वोत्संगे च समारोप्य कुमारं सूर्यवर्चसम्

pariṣvajya tu gāḍhena girijāpi tutoṣa vai|| svotsaṃge ca samāropya kumāraṃ sūryavarcasam

Embracing him tightly, Girija too was filled with delight; and, taking sun-radiant Kumara upon her own lap,

Verse 44 (skanda.1.30.44)

लालयामास तन्वंगी पार्वती रुचिरेक्षणा॥ ऋषीभिः सत्कृतः शंभुः पार्वत्या सहितस्तदा

lālayāmāsa tanvaṃgī pārvatī rucirekṣaṇā|| ṛṣībhiḥ satkṛtaḥ śaṃbhuḥ pārvatyā sahitastadā

— that slender, lovely-eyed Parvati fondled him tenderly. Shambhu too, together with Parvati, was then honoured by the sages.

Verse 45 (skanda.1.30.45)

आर्यासनगता साध्वी शुशुभे मितभाषिणी॥ संस्तूयमाना मुनिभिः सिद्धचारणपन्नगैः

āryāsanagatā sādhvī śuśubhe mitabhāṣiṇī|| saṃstūyamānā munibhiḥ siddhacāraṇapannagaiḥ

Seated upon the honoured seat, that virtuous, softly-spoken lady shone forth, praised by sages, siddhas, charanas and nagas.

Verse 46 (skanda.1.30.46)

नीराजिता तदा देवैः पार्वती शंभुना सह॥ कुमारेण सहैवाथ शोममाना तदा सती

nīrājitā tadā devaiḥ pārvatī śaṃbhunā saha|| kumāreṇa sahaivātha śomamānā tadā satī

Then the gods performed the arati of Parvati together with Shambhu; and, together with Kumara too, that faithful goddess shone in splendour.

Verse 47 (skanda.1.30.47)

हिमालयस्तदागत्य पुत्रैश्च परिवारितः॥ मेर्वाद्यैः पर्वतैश्चैव स्तूयमानः परोऽभवत्

himālayastadāgatya putraiśca parivāritaḥ|| mervādyaiḥ parvataiścaiva stūyamānaḥ paro'bhavat

Himalaya then came, surrounded by his sons, and, praised by Meru and the other mountains, he became supremely exalted.

Verse 48 (skanda.1.30.48)

तदा देवगणाः सर्व इन्द्राद्य ऋषिभिः सह॥ पुष्पवर्षेण महात ववर्षुरमितद्युतिम्॥ कुमारमग्रतः कृत्वा नीराजनपरा बभुः

tadā devagaṇāḥ sarva indrādya ṛṣibhiḥ saha|| puṣpavarṣeṇa mahāta vavarṣuramitadyutim|| kumāramagrataḥ kṛtvā nīrājanaparā babhuḥ

Then all the hosts of gods, with Indra and the sages, rained down a great shower of flowers upon that immeasurably radiant one; and, placing Kumara before them, they became absorbed in performing his arati.

Verse 49 (skanda.1.30.49)

गीतवादित्रघोषेण ब्रह्मघोषेण भूयसा॥ संस्तूयमानो विविधैः सूक्तैर्वेदविदां वरैः

gītavāditraghoṣeṇa brahmaghoṣeṇa bhūyasā|| saṃstūyamāno vividhaiḥ sūktairvedavidāṃ varaiḥ

Amid the resounding of song and instrument, and the abundant chanting of Vedic recitation, he was praised with various hymns by the foremost knowers of the Veda.

Verse 50 (skanda.1.30.50)

कुमारविजयंनाम चरित्रं परमाद्भुतम्॥ सर्वपापहरं दिव्यं सर्वकामप्रदं नृणाम्

kumāravijayaṃnāma caritraṃ paramādbhutam|| sarvapāpaharaṃ divyaṃ sarvakāmapradaṃ nṛṇām

This most wondrous account, named 'the Victory of Kumara,' is divine, removing all sins, and grants to men all their desires.

Verse 51 (skanda.1.30.51)

ये कीर्त्तयंति शुचयोऽमितभाग्ययुक्ताश्चानंत्यरूपमजरामरमादधानाः॥ कौमारविक्रममहात्म्यमुदारमेतदानंददायकमनोर्थकरं नृणां हि

ye kīrttayaṃti śucayo'mitabhāgyayuktāścānaṃtyarūpamajarāmaramādadhānāḥ|| kaumāravikramamahātmyamudārametadānaṃdadāyakamanorthakaraṃ nṛṇāṃ hi

Those pure ones, blessed with boundless fortune, who recite this glorious and generous greatness of Kumara's valour, bearing thereby an imperishable, undying form — for them it becomes, indeed, a source of joy and the fulfiller of every desire.

Verse 52 (skanda.1.30.52)

यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि कुमारस्य महात्मनः॥ चरितं तारकाख्यं च सर्वपापैः समुच्यते

yaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyādvāpi kumārasya mahātmanaḥ|| caritaṃ tārakākhyaṃ ca sarvapāpaiḥ samucyate

Whoever reads, or even hears, this account of the great-souled Kumara, called the tale of Taraka, is freed from all sins.