जनमेजय उवाच सरस्वत्याः प्रभावोऽयमुक्तस्ते द्विजसत्तम। कुमारस्याभिषेकं तु ब्रह्मन् व्याख्यातुमर्हसि॥
Janamejaya said "You have described the inerits of the Sarasvati, O best of Brahmanas. You should, O Rishi, describe to me the investiture of Kumara by the gods.
यस्मिन् देशे च काले च यथा च वदतां वर। यैश्चाभिषिक्तो भगवान् विधिना येन च प्रभुः॥ स्कन्दो यथा च दैत्यानामकरोत् कदनं महत्। तथा मे सर्वामाचक्ष्व परं कौतूहलं हि मे॥
Great is my curiosity. Tell me everything, therefore, about the time, place and manner in which the worshipful and powerful Skanda was appointed the commander-in-chief of the celestial hosts! Tell me also, O best of speakers, who invested him and who performed the actual rites and how the celestial generalissimo killed the Daityas."
वैशम्पायन उवाच कुरुवंशस्य सदृशं कौतूहलमिदं तव। हर्षमुत्पादयत्येव वचो मे जनमेजय॥
Vaishampayana said "Your curiosity indeed becomes a Kuru. The words that I shall speak, will, O Janamejaya, please you.
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि शृण्वानस्य नराधिप। अभिषेकं कुमारस्य प्रभावं च महात्मनः॥
I shall describe to you the appointment of Kumara and the prowess of that high-souled one, since, O king, you wish to hear it.
तेजो माहेश्वरं स्कनमग्नौ प्रपतितं पुरा। तत् सर्वभक्षो भगवान् नाशकद् दग्धुमक्षयम्॥
In days of yore the vital seed of Maheshvara, dropped into a blazing fire. The consumer of everything, the worshipful Agni, could not burn that indestructible seed.
तेनासीदतितेजस्वी दीप्तिमान् हव्यवाहनः। न चैव धारयामास गर्भ तेजोमयं तदा॥
On the other hand, the carrier of sacrificial libations, for that seed, became possessed of great energy and splendour. He could not bear within himself that powerful seed.
स गङ्गामभिसंगम्य नियोगाद् ब्रह्मणः प्रभुः। गर्भमाहितवान् दिव्यं भास्करोपमतेजसम्॥
At the behest of Brahma, the lord Agni, approaching the river Ganga, threw into her that divine seed effulgent like the Sun.
अथ गङ्गापि तं गर्भमसहन्ती विधारणे। उत्ससर्ज गिरौ रम्ये हिमवत्मरार्चिते॥
Ganga also, unable to hold it, threw it on the beautiful breast of Himavat adored of the celestials.
स तत्र ववृधे लोकानावृत्य ज्वलनात्मजः। ददृशुर्चलनाकारं तं गर्भमथ कृत्तिकाः॥
Thereupon Agni's son began to grow there, overpowering all the worlds by his energy. Meanwhile the six Krittikas saw that child of fiery splendour.
शरस्तम्बे महात्मानमनलात्मजमीश्वरम्। ममायमिति ताः सर्वाः पुत्रार्थिन्योऽभिचुक्रुशुः॥
Seeing that powerful lord, that great son of Agni, lying on a clump of reeds, all the six Krittikas, who wanted to have a son, cried aloud, saying-"This child is mine, this child is mine.'
तासां विदित्वा भावं तं मातृणां भगवान् प्रभुः। प्रस्तुतानां पय: षड्भिर्वदनैरपिबत् तदा॥
Understanding the feelings of those six mothers, the wonderful lord Skanda sucked the breasts of all, having assumed six months.
तं प्रभावं समालक्ष्य तस्य बालस्य कृत्तिकाः। परं विस्मयमापन्ना देव्यो दिव्यवपुर्धराः॥
Beholding that power of the child, the Krittikas, those beautiful goddesses, were stricken with wonder.
यत्रोत्सृष्टः स भगवान् गङ्गया गिरिमूर्धनि। स शैलः काञ्चनः सर्वः सम्बभौ कुरुसत्तम॥
And because the adorable child had been thrown by the river Ganga upon the summit of Himavat, that mountain looked beautiful, having, O delighter of the Kurus, been transformed into gold.
वर्धता चैव गर्भेण पृथिवी तेन रञ्जिता। अतश्च सर्वे संवृत्ता गिरयः काञ्चनाकराः॥
With that growing child the whole Earth became beautiful and it was therefore that mountains produced gold.
कुमारः सुमहावीर्यः कीर्तिकेय इति स्मृतः। गाङ्गेयः पूर्वमभवन्महायोगबलान्वितः॥
Possessed of great energy, the child passed by the name of Kartikeya. At first he had been called by the name of Gangeya. He was endued with high ascetic powers.
शमेन तपसा चैव वीर्येण च समन्वितः। ववृधेऽतीव राजेन्द्र चन्द्रवत् प्रियदर्शनः॥
Possessed of self-restraint, asceticism and great energy, the child grew up. O king, into a person of highly charming features like Soma himself.
स तस्मिन् काञ्चने दिव्ये शरस्तम्भे श्रिया वृतः। स्तूयमानः सदा शेते गन्धर्वैर्मुनिभिस्तथा॥
Highly beautiful the child lay on that excellent and golden clump of reeds, worshipped and lauded by Gandharvas and ascetics.
तथैतमन्वनृत्यन्तः देवकन्या सहस्रशः। दिव्यवादित्रनृत्यज्ञाः स्तुवन्त्यश्चारुदर्शनाः॥
Thousands of celestial girls, of very handsome features, accomplished in celestial music and dance, lauded him and danced before him.
अन्वास्ते च नदी देवं गङ्गा वै सरितां वरा। दधार पृथिवी चैनं बिभ्रती रूपमुत्तमम्॥
The best of all rivers, viz., Ganga, waited upon that god. The earth also, assuming great beauty, held the child on her lap.
जातकर्मादिकास्तत्र क्रियाश्चक्रे बृहस्पतिः। वेदश्चैनं चतुर्मूर्तिरुपतस्थे कृताञ्जलिः॥
The celestial priest Brihaspati performed the usual rites consequent upon the birth, of that child. The Vedas, assuming a fourfold form, approached the child with clasped hands.
धनुर्वेदश्चतुष्पादः शस्त्रग्रामः ससंग्रहः। तत्रैनं समुपातिष्ठत् साक्षाद् वाणी च केवला॥
The science of arms, with its four divisions and all the weapons, as also all kinds of arrows, came to him.
स ददर्श महावीर्यं देवदेवमुमापतिम्। शैलपुत्र्या समासीनं भूतसंघशतैर्वृतम्॥
One day, the highly energetic child, saw that god of gods, viz., the lord of Uma, seated with the daughter of Himavat, amid a number of goblins.
निकाया भूतसंघानां परमाद्भुतदर्शनाः। विकृता विकृताकारा बिकृताभरणध्वजाः॥
Those goblins, of lean bodies, had wonderful features. They were ugly both in person and in features and bore on this person awkward ornaments and marks.
व्याघ्रसिंहर्क्षवदना विडालमकराननाः। वृषदंशमुखाश्चान्ये गजोष्ट्रवदनास्तथा॥ उलूकवदनाः केचिद् गृध्रगोमायुदर्शनाः।
Their faces were like those of tigers and lions and bears and cats and Makaras. Others had faces like those of scorpions; others had faces like those of elephant and camels and owls. And some had faces like those of vultures and jackals.
क्रौञ्चपारावतनिभैर्वदनै राङ्कवैरपि।॥ श्वाविच्छल्यकगोधानामजैडकगवां तथा। सदृशानि वपूंष्यन्ये तत्र यत्र व्यधारयन्॥ केचिच्छैलाम्बुदप्रख्याश्चक्रोद्यतगदायुधाः। केचिदञ्जनपुञ्जाभाः केचिच्छ्वेताचलप्रभाः॥ सप्त मातृगणाश्चैव समाजग्मुर्विशाम्पते।
And some had faces like those of cranes and pigeons and Kurus. And some had bodies like those of dogs and porcupines and iguanas and goats and sheep and cows. And some resembled mountains and some, oceans and some stood with uplifted discs and maces for their weapons. And some looked like masses of antimony and some, like with mountains. The seven matris also were present there, O king.
साध्या विश्वेऽथ मरुतो वसवः पितरस्तथा॥ रुद्रादित्यास्तथा सिद्धा भुजगाः दानवाः खगाः। ब्रह्मा स्वयम्भूभगवान् सपुत्रः सह विष्णुना॥ शक्रस्तथाभ्ययाद् द्रष्टुं कुमारवरमच्युतम्।
The Saddhyas, the Vishvedevas, the Maruts, the Vasus, the Pitris, the Rudras, the Adityas, the Siddhas, the Danavas, the birds, the self-create and worshipful Brahman with his sons and Vishnu and Shakra, all went there for beholding that child of ever-increasing glory.
नारदप्रमुखाश्चापि देवगन्धर्वसत्तमाः॥ देवर्षयश्च सिद्धाश्च बृहस्पतिपुरोगमाः। पितरो जगतः श्रेष्ठा देवानामपि देवताः॥ तेऽपि तत्र समाजग्मुर्यामा धामाश्च सर्वशः।
And many leading celestials and Gandharvas, headed by Narada and many celestial Rishis and Siddhas headed by Brihaspati and the guardian deities of the universe, those foremost ones, they that are regarded as gods of the gods and the Yamas and the Dhamas, all went there.
स तु बालोऽपि बलवान महायोगबलान्वितः॥ अभ्याजगाम देवेशं शूलहस्तं पिनाकिनम्।
Gifted with great strength and great ascetic power, the child proceeded before that lord of the gods, viz., Mahadeva, armed with trident and Pinaka.
तमाव्रजन्तमालक्ष्य शिवस्यासीन्मनोगतम्॥ युगपच्छैलपुत्र्याश्च गङ्गायाः पावकस्य च। कं नु पूर्वमयं बालो गौरवादभ्युपैष्यति॥ अपि मामिति सर्वेषां तेषामासीन्मनोगतम्।
Seeing the child coming, the thought entered the mind of Shiva, that of Himavat's daughter and that of Ganga and of Agni, as to whom amongst the four, the child would first approach for honoring him or her. Each of them thought-He will come to me.'
तेषामेतमभिप्रायं चतुर्णामुपलक्ष्य सः॥ युगपद् योगमास्थाय ससर्ज विविधास्तनूः।
Understanding the desire of each of those four, he had recourse to his Yoga powers and assumed simultaneously four different forms.
ततोऽभवचतुर्मूतिः क्षणेन भगवान् प्रभुः॥ तस्य शाखो विशाखश्च नैगमेयश्च पृष्ठतः।
The worshipful and powerful lord assumed those four forms in a instant. The three forms that stood behind were Shakra and Vishakha and Naigameya.
एवं स कृत्वा ह्यात्मानं चतुर्धा भगवान् प्रभुः॥ यतो रुद्रस्ततः स्कन्दो गजामाद्भुतदर्शनः।
Having divided his self into four forms, he went towards the four that sat expecting him. The wonderful form called Skanda proceed where Rudra was sitting.
विशाखस्तु ययौ येन देवी गिरीवरात्मजा॥ शाखो ययौ स भगवान् वायुमूर्तिर्विभावसुं। नैगमेयोऽगमद् गङ्गां कुमारः पावकप्रभः॥
Vishakha went where the divine daughter of Himavat was. The adorable Shakha, which is Kartikeya's airy form, went towards Agni. Naigameya, that child of fiery splendour, went before Ganga.
सर्वे भासुरदेहास्ते चत्वारः समरूपिणः। तान् समभ्ययुरव्यग्रास्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्॥
All those four forms, of similar appearance, were highly effulgent. The four forms went calmly to the four gods and goddesses. It was indeed wonderful.
हाहाकारो महानासीद् देवदानवरक्षसाम्। तद् दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यमद्भूतं लोमहर्षणम्॥
The gods, the Danavas and the Rakshasas, made a loud noise seeing that exceedingly wonderful and hair stirring incident.
ततो रुद्रश्च देवीं च पावकश्च पितामहम्। गड्या सहिताः सर्वे प्रणिपेतुर्जगत्पतिम्॥
Then Rudra and the goddess Uma and Agni and Ganga, all bowed unto Brahma, that lord of the universe.
प्रणिपत्य ततस्ते तु विधिवद् राजपुङ्गवा उदमूचुर्वचो राजन् कार्तिकेयप्रियेप्सया॥ अस्य बालस्य भगवन्नाधिपत्यं यथेप्सितम्। अस्मात्प्रियार्थं देवेश सदृशं दातुमर्हसि॥
Having duly bowed into him, they said these words, O king, from desire of doing god unto Kartikeya:-"O Lord of the gods, for the sake of our happiness you should give this youth some kind of sovereignty that may suit him and that he may desire.'
ततः स भगवान् धीमान् सर्वलोकपितामहः। मनसा चिन्तयामास किमयं लभतामिति॥
Thereat, the worshipful grandfather of all the worlds, endued with great intelligence, began to think within his mind as to what he should confer of that youth.
ऐश्वर्याणि च सर्वाणि देवगन्धर्वरक्षसाम्। भूतयक्षविहङ्गानां पन्नगानां च सर्वशः॥ पूर्वमेवादिदेशासौ निकायेषु महात्मनाम्। समर्थं च तमैश्वर्ये महामतिरमन्यत॥
He had formerly given away to the gods all kinds of wealth over which the great celestials, the Gandharvas, the Rakshasas, ghosts, Yakshas, birds and snakes now region. Brahman, therefore, considered that youth as fully qualified to have the dominion which had been bestowed upon the gods.
ततो मुहूर्तं स ध्यात्वा देवानां श्रेयसि स्थितः। सैनापत्यं ददौ तस्मै सर्वभूतेषु भारत॥
Having thought for a moment, the grandfather, always seeking the well-being of the celestials, conferred upon him the dignity of a generalissimo among all creatures, O Bharata.
सर्वदेवनिकायानां ये राजानः परिश्रुताः। तान् सर्वान् व्यादिदेशास्मै सर्वभूतपितामहः॥
He further ordered all those leading gods and other formless beings to wait upon him.
ततः कुमारमादाय देवा ब्रह्मपुरोगमाः। अभिषेकार्थमाजग्मुः शैलेन्द्र सहितास्ततः॥
Then the gods headed by Brahman, taking that youth with them, came in a body to Himavat.
पुण्यां हैमवती देवी सरिच्छेष्ठां सरस्वतीम्। समन्तपञ्चके या वै त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुता॥
The site selected by them was the bank of the sacred and divine Sarasvati, that foremost of rivers, taking her rise from Himavat, which is celebrated over the three worlds by the name of Samantapanchaka.
तत्र तीरे सरस्वत्याः पुण्ये सर्वगुणान्विते। निषेदुर्देवगन्धर्वाः सर्वे सम्पूर्णमानसाः॥
There, on the sacred bank of the Sarasvati, the gods and the Gandharvas took their seats with gladness on account of the gratification of all their desire."