ततोऽग्निरुपयेमे तां शिवां प्रीतिमुदायुतः। प्रीत्या देवी समायुक्ता शुक्रं जग्राह पाणिना
Then Agni united with her, the auspicious one, filled with joy. The goddess, joined in affection, took the seed in her hand.
साऽचिन्तयन्ममेदं ये रूपं द्रक्ष्यन्ति कानने। ते ब्राह्मणीनामनृतं दोषं वक्ष्यन्ति पावके
She thought: Those who see my form in the forest will accuse the wives of the Brahmins of falsehood and blame, O Pāvaka.
तस्मादेतद्रक्षमाणा गरुडी संभवाम्यहम्। वनान्निर्गमनं चैव सुखं मम भविष्यति
Therefore, to protect this, I will take the form of a Garuḍī. Leaving the forest will also be easy for me.
सुपर्णी सा तदा भूत्वा निर्जगाम महावनात्। अपश्यत्पर्वतं श्वेतं शरस्तम्बैः सुसंवृतम्
Then she became a Suparṇī and departed from the great forest. She saw a white mountain, covered with tall arrow-like pillars.
दृष्टीविषैः सप्तशीर्षैर्गुप्तं भोगिभिरद्भुतैः। रक्षोभिश्च पिशाचैश्च रौद्रैर्भूतगणैस्तथा
Guarded by snakes with seven heads and venomous gaze, wondrous in form, and by fierce rakṣasas, piśācas, and other terrifying beings.
राक्षसीभिश्च संपूर्णमनेकैश्च मृगद्विजैः। `नदीप्रस्रवणोपेतं नानातरुलताचितम्
Filled with rākṣasīs and many wild animals and birds, adorned with river springs and various trees and creepers.
सा तत्र सहसा गत्वा शैलपृष्ठं सुदुर्गमम्। प्राक्षिपत्काञ्चने कुण्डे शुक्रं सा त्वरिता शुभा
There, swiftly reaching the difficult mountain summit, she, the auspicious one, quickly cast the seed into a golden vessel.
शिष्टानामपि सा देवी सप्तर्षीणां महात्मनाम्। पत्नीसरूपतां कृत्वा रमयामास पावकम्
The goddess, assuming the form of the wives of the noble seven sages, delighted Agni.
दिव्यरूपमरुन्धत्याः कर्तुं न शकितं तया। तस्यास्तपःप्रभावेण भर्तृशुश्रूषणेन च
She was unable to assume the divine form of Arundhatī, due to the power of her austerity and service to her husband.
षट्कृत्वस्तत्तु निक्षिप्तमग्ने रेतः कुरुत्तम। तस्मन्कुण्डे प्रतिपदि कामिन्या स्वाहया तदा
Six times, O best of Kurus, Agni's seed was deposited; at each time, the desirous woman offered it with svāhā into the vessel.
तत्स्कन्नं तेजसा तत्रसंवृतंजनयत्सुतम्। ऋषिभिः पूजितं स्कन्नमनयन्स्कन्दतां ततः
That which was infused with energy and contained there produced a son, honored by the sages, and thus became Skanda.
षट्शिरा द्विगुणश्रोत्रो द्वादशाक्षिभूजक्रमः। एकग्रीवस्त्वेककायः कुमारः समपद्यत
He appeared with six heads, double the ears, twelve eyes, a single neck and body—the boy was born thus.
द्वितीयायामभिव्यक्तस्तृतीयायां शिशुर्बभौ। अङ्गप्रत्यङ्गसंभूतश्चतुर्थ्यामभवद्गुहः
He manifested on the second day; on the third, he shone as a child; with limbs and sub-limbs formed, on the fourth, he became Guha.
लोहिताभ्रेण महता संवृतः सह विद्युता। लोहिताभ्रे सुमहति भाति सूर्य इवोदितः
Covered with a great red cloud, together with lightning, he shone like the rising sun in a vast red cloud.
गृहीतं तु धनुस्तेन विपुलं रोमहर्षणम्। न्यस्तं यत्रिपुरघ्नेन सुरारिविनिकृन्तनम्
He took up a mighty bow, awe-inspiring, which had been placed by the destroyer of Tripura, capable of cutting down the enemies of the gods.
तद्गृहीत्वा धनुःश्रेष्ठं ननाद बलवांस्तदा। संमोहयन्निमाँल्लोकान्गुहस्त्रीन्सचराचरान्
Taking that best of bows, the powerful Guha roared, bewildering all worlds, including the Guha women and all beings, moving and unmoving.
तस् तं निनदं श्रुत्वा महामेघौघनिःस्वनम्। उत्पेततुर्महानागौ चित्रश्चैरावतश्च ह
Hearing that roar, which sounded like the thunder of a great mass of clouds, the two mighty elephants, Chitra and Airavata, leapt up.
तावापतन्तौ संप्रेक्ष्यस बालोऽर्कसमद्युतिः। द्वाभ्यां गृहीत्वा पाणिभ्यां शक्तिं चान्येन पाणिना
Seeing those two charging forward, that radiant boy, shining like the sun, seized them both with his hands and, with another hand, took up his spear.
अपरेणाग्निदायादस्ताम्रचूडं भुजेन सः। महाकायमुपश्लिष्टं कुक्कुटं बलिनां वरम्। गृहीत्वा व्यनदद्भीमं चिक्रीड च महाभुजः
With yet another arm, the heir of Agni grasped the copper-crested, massive-bodied, powerful rooster—best among the strong—embracing it, he let out a terrible roar and played, that mighty-armed one.
द्वाभ्यां भुजाभ्यां बलवान्गृहीत्वा शङ्खमुत्तमम्। प्राध्मापयत् भूतानां त्रासनं बलिनामपि। द्वाभ्यां भुजाभ्यामाकाशं बहुशो निजघान
With two strong arms he took up the excellent conch and blew it, striking fear even among the powerful beings; with both arms he struck the sky again and again.
क्रीडन्भाति महासेनस्त्रींल्लोकान्वदनैः पिवन्। पर्वताग्रेऽप्रमेयात्मा रश्मिमानुदये यथा
Playing, Mahasena shone, as if drinking up the three worlds with his mouths, atop the mountain peak, immeasurable in his being, like the sun at its rising.
स तस् पर्वतस्याग्रे निषण्णोऽद्भुतविक्रमः। व्यलोकयदमेयात्मा मुखैर्नानाविधैर्दिशः
There, seated on the mountain's summit, wondrous in his valor, that immeasurable one gazed in all directions with his many faces.
स पश्यन्विविधान्भावांश्चकार निनदं पुनः। तस्य तं निनदं श्रुत्वा न्यपतन्बहुधा जनाः। भीताश्चोद्विग्रमनसस्तमेव शरणं ययुः
Observing various beings, he roared again; hearing that roar, many people fell down, and, frightened and agitated in mind, they sought refuge in him.
ये तुं संश्रिता देवं नानावर्णास्तदा जनाः। तानप्याहुः पारिषदान्ब्राह्मणाः सुमहाबलान्
Those people of various colors who had taken refuge in that god were also said to be his attendants—Brahmanas of immense strength.
स तूत्थाय महाबाहुरुपसान्त्व्य च ताञ्जनान्। धनुर्विकृष्य व्यसृजद्बाणाञ्श्वेते महागिरौ
Then that mighty-armed one arose, consoled those people, drew his bow, and released arrows upon the white great mountain.
विभेद स शरैः शैलं क्रौञ्चं हिमवतः सुतम्। तेन हंसाश्च गृध्राश्च मेरुं गच्छन्ति पर्वतम्
With his arrows he split the Krauncha mountain, son of Himavat; because of this, swans and vultures went to Mount Meru.
स विशीर्णोऽपतच्छैलो भृशमार्तस्वराव्रुवन्
That shattered mountain fell down, crying out in great distress.
तस्मिन्निपतिते त्वन्ये नेदुः शैला भृशं भयात्। `घोरमार्तस्वरं चक्रुर्दृष्ट्वा क्रौञ्चं विदारितम्
When it had fallen, the other mountains roared loudly in fear, making a dreadful, anguished sound upon seeing Krauncha torn apart.
सतं नादं भृशार्तानां श्रुत्वाऽपि बलिनांवरः। न प्राव्यधदमेयात्मा शक्तिमुद्यम्य चानदत्
Even hearing the cries of those greatly afflicted, the best among the strong was not moved; the immeasurable one raised his spear and roared.
सा तदा विमला शक्तिः क्षिप्ता तेन महात्मना। बिभेद शिखरं घोरं श्वेतस् तरसा गिरेः
Then that flawless spear, hurled by the great-souled one, pierced the terrible peak of the white mountain with force.