The Glory of the Shakti Established by Skanda

Verse 1 (skanda.6.71.1)

सूत उवाच॥ तास्तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय चक्रुस्तच्छक्रशासनम्॥ सूतिकागृहधर्मे यत्तच्चक्रुस्तस्य सर्वशः

sūta uvāca tāstatheti pratijñāya cakrustacchakraśāsanam sūtikāgṛhadharme yattaccakrustasya sarvaśaḥ

Suta said: "So be it," they said, and thereupon carried out Indra's command, performing in full for him all the rites of the lying-in chamber.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.71.2)

अथान्यदिवसे बालो द्वादशार्कसमद्युतिः॥ संजज्ञे तेन वीर्येण द्विभुजैकमुखः शुभः

athānyadivase bālo dvādaśārkasamadyutiḥ saṁjajñe tena vīryeṇa dvibhujaikamukhaḥ śubhaḥ

Then, on another day, from that same seed a radiant boy was born, blazing like twelve suns, auspicious, with two arms and a single face.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.71.3)

यथासौ जातमात्रस्तु प्ररुरोद सुदुःखितः॥ तच्छ्रुत्वा रुदितं सर्वाः कृत्तिकास्तमुपागताः

yathāsau jātamātrastu praruroda suduḥkhitaḥ tacchrutvā ruditaṁ sarvāḥ kṛttikāstamupāgatāḥ

As soon as he was born he began to cry most sorrowfully; hearing that cry, all the Krittikas came to him.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.71.4)

महासेनोऽपि संवीक्ष्य मातॄस्ताः समुपागताः॥ सोत्कण्ठः षण्मुखो जातो द्वादशाक्षभुजस्तथा

mahāseno'pi saṁvīkṣya mātṝstāḥ samupāgatāḥ sotkaṇṭhaḥ ṣaṇmukho jāto dvādaśākṣabhujastathā

Mahasena too, seeing those mother-goddesses gathered there, became eager and took on six faces, and likewise twelve eyes and twelve arms.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.71.5)

एकैकस्याः पृथक्तेन प्रपपौ प्रयतः स्तनम्॥ द्वाभ्यामालिंगयामास भुजाभ्यां स्नेहपूर्वकम्

ekaikasyāḥ pṛthaktena prapapau prayataḥ stanam dvābhyāmāliṁgayāmāsa bhujābhyāṁ snehapūrvakam

With each separate face he devotedly drank the breast of each one of them, and with his arms he affectionately embraced them.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.71.6)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्राप्ता ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवादयः॥ सर्वे देवाः सहेन्द्रेण गन्धर्वाप्सरसस्तथा

etasminnaṁtare prāptā brahmaviṣṇuśivādayaḥ sarve devāḥ sahendreṇa gandharvāpsarasastathā

Meanwhile Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and the others arrived, all the gods together with Indra, and likewise the gandharvas and apsarases.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.71.7)

महोत्सवोऽथ संजज्ञे तस्मिन्स्थाने निरर्गलः॥ गीतवाद्यप्रणादेन येन विश्वं प्रपूरितम्

mahotsavo'tha saṁjajñe tasminsthāne nirargalaḥ gītavādyapraṇādena yena viśvaṁ prapūritam

Then an unrestrained great festival arose in that place, whose sound of song and instrument filled the whole universe.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.71.8)

रंभाद्या ननृतुस्तस्य विलासिन्यो दिवौकसाम्॥ जगुश्च मुख्यगन्धर्वाश्चित्रांगदमुखाश्च ये

raṁbhādyā nanṛtustasya vilāsinyo divaukasām jaguśca mukhyagandharvāścitrāṁgadamukhāśca ye

Rambha and the other graceful nymphs of the gods danced for him, and the chief gandharvas headed by Chitrangada sang.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.71.9)

ततस्तु देवताः सर्वास्तस्य नाम प्रचक्रिरे॥ स्कन्दनाद्रेतसो भूमौ स्कन्द इत्येव सादरम्

tatastu devatāḥ sarvāstasya nāma pracakrire skandanādretaso bhūmau skanda ityeva sādaram

Then all the gods reverently gave him his name: because he had fallen (skanna) to the earth from the seed, he was called "Skanda."

Verse 10 (skanda.6.71.10)

अथ तस्य कुमारस्य तदा तत्राभिषेचनम्॥ सेनापत्यं कृतं साक्षाद्देवानां शंभुना स्वयम्

atha tasya kumārasya tadā tatrābhiṣecanam senāpatyaṁ kṛtaṁ sākṣāddevānāṁ śaṁbhunā svayam

Then and there the boy's consecration was performed, and Shambhu himself, in person, conferred upon him the generalship of the gods' army.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.71.11)

तस्य शक्तिः स्वयं दत्ता विधिनाऽद्भुतदर्शना॥ अमोघा विजयार्थाय दैत्यपक्षक्षयाय च

tasya śaktiḥ svayaṁ dattā vidhinā'dbhutadarśanā amoghā vijayārthāya daityapakṣakṣayāya ca

Vidhi (Brahma) himself gave him a Shakti of wondrous appearance, unfailing, for the sake of victory and for the destruction of the demon host.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.71.12)

मयूरो वाहनार्थाय त्र्यंबकेण सुशीघ्रतः॥ दिव्यास्त्राणि महेन्द्रेण विष्णुनाथ महात्मना

mayūro vāhanārthāya tryaṁbakeṇa suśīghrataḥ divyāstrāṇi mahendreṇa viṣṇunātha mahātmanā

Tryambaka swiftly gave him a peacock as his mount, and great-souled Mahendra and Lord Vishnu gave him divine weapons.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.71.13)

ततोऽभीष्टानि शस्त्राणि देवैः सर्वैः पृथक्पृथक्॥ तस्य दत्तानि संतुष्टैस्तथा मातृगणैरपि

tato'bhīṣṭāni śastrāṇi devaiḥ sarvaiḥ pṛthakpṛthak tasya dattāni saṁtuṣṭaistathā mātṛgaṇairapi

Then, well pleased, all the gods separately gave him their chosen weapons, and so too did the host of Mother-goddesses.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.71.14)

ततस्तमग्रतः कृत्वा सेनानाथं सुरेश्वराः॥ जग्मुः ससैनिकास्तत्र तारको यत्र संस्थितः

tatastamagrataḥ kṛtvā senānāthaṁ sureśvarāḥ jagmuḥ sasainikāstatra tārako yatra saṁsthitaḥ

Then, placing him, the army's lord, in front, the lords of the gods, together with their troops, went to where Taraka stood.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.71.15)

तारकोऽपि समालोक्य देवान्स्वयमुपागतान्॥ युद्धार्थं हर्षसंयुक्तः सम्मुखः सत्वरं ययौ

tārako'pi samālokya devānsvayamupāgatān yuddhārthaṁ harṣasaṁyuktaḥ sammukhaḥ satvaraṁ yayau

Taraka too, seeing the gods themselves arrived for battle, went out swiftly to face them, filled with delight.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.71.16)

ततोऽभूत्सुमहद्युद्धं देवानां दानवैः सह॥ कोपसंरक्तनेत्राणां मृत्युं कृत्वा निवर्तनम्

tato'bhūtsumahadyuddhaṁ devānāṁ dānavaiḥ saha kopasaṁraktanetrāṇāṁ mṛtyuṁ kṛtvā nivartanam

Then a very great battle broke out between the gods and the demons, their eyes red with fury, each fighting as though death had been set behind him.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.71.17)

अथ स्कन्देन संवीक्ष्य दूरस्थं तारकं रणे॥ समाहूय ततो मुक्ता सा शक्तिस्तस्य मृत्यवे

atha skandena saṁvīkṣya dūrasthaṁ tārakaṁ raṇe samāhūya tato muktā sā śaktistasya mṛtyave

Then Skanda, seeing Taraka standing at a distance on the battlefield, summoned that Shakti and released it for his death.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.71.18)

अथासौ हृदयं भित्त्वा तस्य दैत्यस्य दारुणा॥ चमत्कारपुरोपांते पतिता रुधिरोक्षिता

athāsau hṛdayaṁ bhittvā tasya daityasya dāruṇā camatkārapuropāṁte patitā rudhirokṣitā

That fearsome Shakti, piercing the demon's heart, fell drenched in blood near the edge of Chamatkarapura.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.71.19)

तारकस्तु गतो नाशं मुक्तः प्राणैश्च तत्क्षणात्॥ ततो देवगणाः सर्वे संहृष्टास्तं महाबलम्

tārakastu gato nāśaṁ muktaḥ prāṇaiśca tatkṣaṇāt tato devagaṇāḥ sarve saṁhṛṣṭāstaṁ mahābalam

Taraka then perished, released from his life-breath that very instant; then all the hosts of gods, greatly delighted,

Verse 20 (skanda.6.71.20)

स्तोत्रैर्बहुविधैः स्तुत्वा प्रोचुस्तस्मिन्हते सति॥ गताश्च त्रिदिवं तूर्णं सह शक्रेण निर्भयाः

stotrairbahuvidhaiḥ stutvā procustasminhate sati gatāśca tridivaṁ tūrṇaṁ saha śakreṇa nirbhayāḥ

praised that mighty one with hymns of many kinds and spoke to him, now that Taraka was slain; and, fearless, they swiftly went to heaven together with Indra.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.71.21)

स्कन्दोऽपि तां समादाय शक्तिं तत्र पुरोत्तमे॥ स्थापयामास येनैव रक्तशृंगोऽभवद्दृढः

skando'pi tāṁ samādāya śaktiṁ tatra purottame sthāpayāmāsa yenaiva raktaśṛṁgo'bhavaddṛḍhaḥ

Skanda too, taking that Shakti, established it there in that excellent city, whereby Mount Raktashringa became firm.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.71.22)

ऋषय ऊचुः॥ रक्तशृंगः कथं तेन निश्चलोऽपि दृढीकृतः॥ कस्य वाक्येन नो ब्रूहि विस्तरेण महामते

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ raktaśṛṁgaḥ kathaṁ tena niścalo'pi dṛḍhīkṛtaḥ kasya vākyena no brūhi vistareṇa mahāmate

The sages said: "How was Raktashringa, though it had become unsteady, made firm by him? At whose word? Tell us this in detail, O wise one."

Verse 23 (skanda.6.71.23)

सूत उवाच॥ यदा वै भूमिकम्पस्तु संप्रजातः सुदारुणः॥ रक्तशृङ्गः प्रचलितः स्वस्थानादतिवेगतः

sūta uvāca yadā vai bhūmikampastu saṁprajātaḥ sudāruṇaḥ raktaśṛṅgaḥ pracalitaḥ svasthānādativegataḥ

Suta said: "When a most terrible earthquake occurred, Raktashringa was shaken from its place with great violence."

Verse 24 (skanda.6.71.24)

तस्य दैत्यस्य पातेन यथान्ये पर्वतोत्तमाः॥ अथ हर्म्याणि सर्वाणि चमत्कारपुरे तदा

tasya daityasya pātena yathānye parvatottamāḥ atha harmyāṇi sarvāṇi camatkārapure tadā

By the fall of that demon, as with other great mountains, it shook; and then all the mansions in Chamatkarapura,

Verse 25 (skanda.6.71.25)

शीर्णानि चलिते तस्मिन्पर्वते व्यथिता द्विजाः॥ प्रायशो निधनं प्राप्तास्तथाऽन्ये मूर्छयार्दिताः

śīrṇāni calite tasminparvate vyathitā dvijāḥ prāyaśo nidhanaṁ prāptāstathā'nye mūrchayārditāḥ

when that mountain shook, crumbled; the brahmins were stricken, most of them met death, and others were overcome with fainting.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.71.26)

हतशेषास्ततो विप्रा गत्वा स्कन्दं क्रुधान्विताः॥ प्रोचुश्च किमिदं पाप त्वया कृतमबुद्धिना

hataśeṣāstato viprā gatvā skandaṁ krudhānvitāḥ procuśca kimidaṁ pāpa tvayā kṛtamabuddhinā

Then the surviving brahmins, filled with anger, went to Skanda and said: "What is this sin you have committed, senselessly?"

Verse 27 (skanda.6.71.27)

नाशं नीता वयं सर्वे सपुत्रपशुबाधवाः॥ तस्माच्छापं प्रदास्यामो वयं दुःखेन दुःखिताः

nāśaṁ nītā vayaṁ sarve saputrapaśubādhavāḥ tasmācchāpaṁ pradāsyāmo vayaṁ duḥkhena duḥkhitāḥ

"All of us, together with our sons, cattle, and kinsmen, have been brought to ruin; therefore, stricken with grief, we shall curse you."

Verse 28 (skanda.6.71.28)

स्कन्द उवाच॥ हिताय सर्वलोकानां मयैतत्समनुष्ठितम्॥ यद्धतो दानवो रौद्रो नान्यथा द्विजसत्तमाः

skanda uvāca hitāya sarvalokānāṁ mayaitatsamanuṣṭhitam yaddhato dānavo raudro nānyathā dvijasattamāḥ

Skanda said: "This was done by me for the welfare of all the worlds, in that the fearsome demon was thereby slain, and for no other reason, O best of brahmins."

Verse 29 (skanda.6.71.29)

प्रसादः क्रियतां तस्मान्मान्या मे ब्राह्मणाः सदा॥ मृतानपि द्विजान्सर्वानहं तानमृताश्रयात्

prasādaḥ kriyatāṁ tasmānmānyā me brāhmaṇāḥ sadā mṛtānapi dvijānsarvānahaṁ tānamṛtāśrayāt

"Therefore be gracious; brahmins are ever to be honored by me. All those brahmins who have died, by resort to nectar,"

Verse 30 (skanda.6.71.30)

पुनर्जीवितसंयुक्तान्करिष्यामि न संशयः॥ तथा सुनिश्चलं शैलं करिष्यामि स्वशक्तितः

punarjīvitasaṁyuktānkariṣyāmi na saṁśayaḥ tathā suniścalaṁ śailaṁ kariṣyāmi svaśaktitaḥ

"I shall, without doubt, restore to life once more; and likewise, by my own power, I shall make this mountain wholly unshaken."

Verse 31 (skanda.6.71.31)

एवमुक्त्वा समादाय तां शक्तिं रुधिरोक्षिताम्॥ चक्रे स्थापनमस्यास्तु रक्तशृङ्गस्य मूर्धनि

evamuktvā samādāya tāṁ śaktiṁ rudhirokṣitām cakre sthāpanamasyāstu raktaśṛṅgasya mūrdhani

Having said this, he took that blood-drenched Shakti and installed it upon the summit of Raktashringa.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.71.32)

ततः प्रोवाच संहृष्टो देवतानां चतुष्टयम्॥ आंबवृद्धां तथैवाम्रां माहित्थां च चमत्करीम्

tataḥ provāca saṁhṛṣṭo devatānāṁ catuṣṭayam āṁbavṛddhāṁ tathaivāmrāṁ māhitthāṁ ca camatkarīm

Then, greatly delighted, he addressed the four goddesses: Ambavriddha, and likewise Amra, Mahittha, and Chamatkari.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.71.33)

युष्माभिर्निश्चलः कार्यो भूयोऽयं नगसत्तमः॥ प्रलयेऽपि यथा स्थानाद्रक्तशृङ्गश्चलेन्नहि

yuṣmābhirniścalaḥ kāryo bhūyo'yaṁ nagasattamaḥ pralaye'pi yathā sthānādraktaśṛṅgaścalennahi

"By you this best of mountains must again be made unshaken, such that even at the great dissolution Raktashringa shall never stir from its place."

Verse 34 (skanda.6.71.34)

सदैव ख्यातिमायातु मन्नाम्ना पुरमुत्तमम्॥ युष्माकं ब्राह्मणाः सर्वे पूजां दास्यंति सर्वदा

sadaiva khyātimāyātu mannāmnā puramuttamam yuṣmākaṁ brāhmaṇāḥ sarve pūjāṁ dāsyaṁti sarvadā

"May this excellent city forever attain fame through my name, and may all the brahmins here render worship to you always."

Verse 35 (skanda.6.71.35)

बाढमित्येव ताः प्रोच्य चतुर्दिक्षु ततश्च तम्॥ शूलाग्रैः सुदृढं चक्रुः स्कन्दवाक्येन हर्षिताः

bāḍhamityeva tāḥ procya caturdikṣu tataśca tam śūlāgraiḥ sudṛḍhaṁ cakruḥ skandavākyena harṣitāḥ

Saying "So be it," those goddesses, delighted by Skanda's word, then made him — the mountain — very firm on all four sides with the points of their tridents.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.71.36)

ततश्चामृतमादाय मृतानपि द्विजोत्तमान्॥ स्कन्दो जीवापयामास द्विजभक्तिपरायणः

tataścāmṛtamādāya mṛtānapi dvijottamān skando jīvāpayāmāsa dvijabhaktiparāyaṇaḥ

Then, taking nectar, Skanda, ever devoted to the brahmins, restored to life even those excellent brahmins who had died.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.71.37)

ततस्ते ब्राह्मणास्तत्र संहृष्टा वरमुत्तमम्॥ ददुस्तस्य स च प्राह मन्नामैतत्पुरोत्तमम्॥ सदैव ख्यातिमायातु एतन्मे हृदि वांछितम्

tataste brāhmaṇāstatra saṁhṛṣṭā varamuttamam dadustasya sa ca prāha mannāmaitatpurottamam sadaiva khyātimāyātu etanme hṛdi vāṁchitam

Then those brahmins, delighted, gave him there an excellent boon; and he said: "May this excellent city, bearing my name, forever attain fame — this is my heart's desire."

Verse 38 (skanda.6.71.38)

ऋषय ऊचुः॥ एतत्स्कन्दपुरंनाम तव नाम्ना भविष्यति॥ चमत्कारपुरं तद्वत्सांप्रतं सुरसत्तम

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ etatskandapuraṁnāma tava nāmnā bhaviṣyati camatkārapuraṁ tadvatsāṁprataṁ surasattama

The sages said: "This place, once Chamatkarapura, shall now, O best of gods, become known by your name as Skandapura."

Verse 39 (skanda.6.71.39)

पूजां तव करिष्यामः कृत्वा प्रासादमुत्तमम्॥ तथैव देवताः सर्वाश्चतस्रोऽपि त्वया धृताः

pūjāṁ tava kariṣyāmaḥ kṛtvā prāsādamuttamam tathaiva devatāḥ sarvāścatasro'pi tvayā dhṛtāḥ

"We shall build for you an excellent temple and shall worship you; and likewise all four goddesses established by you,"

Verse 40 (skanda.6.71.40)

सर्वाः संपूजयिष्यामः सर्वकृत्येषु सादरम्॥ एतां चं तावकीं शक्तिं सदा सुरवरोत्तम॥ विशेषात्पूजयिष्यामः षष्ठ्यां श्रद्धासमन्विताः

sarvāḥ saṁpūjayiṣyāmaḥ sarvakṛtyeṣu sādaram etāṁ caṁ tāvakīṁ śaktiṁ sadā suravarottama viśeṣātpūjayiṣyāmaḥ ṣaṣṭhyāṁ śraddhāsamanvitāḥ

"...we shall reverently worship in all our undertakings; and this Shakti of yours too, O best among gods, we shall worship especially, with faith, on the sixth lunar day."

Verse 41 (skanda.6.71.41)

सूत उवाच॥ एवं स ब्राह्मणैः प्रोक्तो महासेनो महाबलः॥ स्थितस्तत्रैव तद्वाक्याज्ज्ञात्वा तत्क्षेत्रमुत्तमम्

sūta uvāca evaṁ sa brāhmaṇaiḥ prokto mahāseno mahābalaḥ sthitastatraiva tadvākyājjñātvā tatkṣetramuttamam

Suta said: Thus addressed by the brahmins, the mighty Mahasena, recognizing from their words that it was an excellent sacred place, remained there.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.71.42)

यस्तं पूजयते भक्त्या चैत्रषष्ठ्यां सुभावतः॥ शुक्लायां तस्य संतुष्टिं कुरुते बर्हिवाहनः

yastaṁ pūjayate bhaktyā caitraṣaṣṭhyāṁ subhāvataḥ śuklāyāṁ tasya saṁtuṣṭiṁ kurute barhivāhanaḥ

Whoever, with a pure heart, worships him with devotion on the sixth day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra, the peacock-mounted one grants him satisfaction.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.71.43)

तस्यां शक्तौ नरो यश्च कुर्यात्पृष्ठिनिघर्षणम्॥ पूजयित्वा तु पुष्पाद्यैः सम्यक्छ्रद्धासमन्वितः॥ स न स्याद्रोगसंयुक्तो यावत्संवत्सरं द्विजाः

tasyāṁ śaktau naro yaśca kuryātpṛṣṭhinigharṣaṇam pūjayitvā tu puṣpādyaiḥ samyakchraddhāsamanvitaḥ sa na syādrogasaṁyukto yāvatsaṁvatsaraṁ dvijāḥ

And whatever man, having worshipped that Shakti well with flowers and the like, filled with true faith, rubs his back against it, O brahmins, remains free from illness for a full year.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.71.44)

एवं तत्र धृता शक्तिस्तेन स्कन्देन धीमता॥ रक्तशृंगस्य रक्षार्थं तत्पुरस्य विशेषतः

evaṁ tatra dhṛtā śaktistena skandena dhīmatā raktaśṛṁgasya rakṣārthaṁ tatpurasya viśeṣataḥ

Thus that Shakti was established there by the wise Skanda for the protection of Raktashringa, and especially of that city.