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.
स तेनाभिहतो दीर्णो गिरिः श्वेतोऽचलैः सह। पलायत महीं त्यक्त्वा भीतस्तस्मान्महात्मनः
Struck by that, the white mountain was split apart along with its neighboring peaks, and, abandoning the earth in fear of that great soul, it fled.
ततः प्रव्यथिता भूमिर्व्यशीर्यत समन्ततः। आर्ता स्कन्दं समासाद्य पुनर्बलवती बभौ
Then the earth, shaken and breaking apart on all sides, in distress, approached Skanda and once more became strong.
पर्वताश्च नमस्कृत्यतमेव पृथिवीं गताः। अथैनमभजल्लोकः स्कन्दं शुक्लस्य पञ्चमीम्
And the mountains, bowing, went to the earth itself; then the world honored Skanda on the fifth day of the bright fortnight.
तस्मिञ्जाते महासत्त्वे महासेने महाबले। समुत्तस्थुर्महोत्पाता घोररूपाः पृथग्विधाः ।। 1
When that great being, Mahasena of immense strength, was born, terrible and various great omens arose.
स्त्रीपुंसोर्विपरीतं च तथा द्वन्द्वानि यानि च। ग्रहा दीप्ता दिशः खं च ररास च मही भृशम्
The reversal of male and female, and likewise all dualities; the planets shone brightly, the directions, the sky, and the earth trembled greatly.
ऋषयश्च महाघोरान्दृष्ट्वोत्पातान्समन्ततः। अकुर्वञ्शान्तिमुद्विग्ना लोकानां लोकभावनाः
The great and terrible sages, seeing these omens everywhere, performed rites of appeasement, anxious for the welfare of the worlds.
निवसन्ति वने ये तु तस्मिंश्चैत्ररथे जनाः। तेऽब्रुवन्नेष नोऽनर्थः पावकेनाहृतो महान्। संगम्य षड्भिः पत्नीभिः सप्तर्षीणामिति स्म ह
Those people living in the forest of Caitraratha said, 'This great misfortune has been brought upon us by fire, after joining with the six wives of the Seven Sages.'
अपरे गरुडीमाहुस्तयाऽनर्थोऽयमाहृतः। यैर्दृष्टा सा तदा देवी तस्या रूपेण गच्छती
Others declared it was Garudī who brought this misfortune, for those who saw her then, the goddess, moving in that form.
न तु तत्स्वाहया कर्म कृतंजानाति वै जनः
But people do not know that this act was performed by Svāhā.
सुपर्णी तु वचः श्रुत्वा ममायं तनयस्त्विति। उपगम्य शनैः स्कन्दमाहाहं जननी तव
Suparṇī, hearing these words, said, 'This is my son,' and gently approached Skanda, saying, 'I am your mother.'
अथ सप्तर्षयः श्रुत्वा जातं पुत्रं महौजसम्। तत्यजुः षट् तदा पत्नीर्विना देवीमरुन्धतीम्। षड्भिरेव तदा जातमाहुस्तद्वनवासिनः
Then, when the Seven Sages heard that a son of great energy had been born, six of them abandoned their wives, except for the goddess Arundhatī; and those living in the forest said he was born of the six.
सप्तर्षीनाह च स्वाहा मम पुत्रोऽयमित्युत। अहं हेतुर्नैतदेवमिति राजन्पुनः पुनः
Svāhā said to the Seven Sages, 'This is my son,' but again and again, O King, she declared, 'I am the cause, not the wives.'
विश्वामित्रस्तु कृत्वेष्टिं सप्तर्षीणां महामुनिः। पावकं कामसंतप्तमदृष्टः पृष्ठतोऽन्वगात्। तत्तेन निखिलं सर्वमवबुध्य यथातथम्
Viśvāmitra, the great sage, performed a sacrifice for the Seven Sages; unseen, he followed the fire, inflamed by desire, and thus learned everything exactly as it was.
विश्वामित्रस्तु प्रथमं कुमारं शरणं गतः। स्तवं दिव्यं संप्रचक्रे महासेनस् चापि सः
Viśvāmitra was the first to seek refuge with the boy, and he composed a divine hymn for Mahāsena.
मङ्गलानि च सर्वाणि कौमाराणि त्रयोदश। जातकर्मादिकास्तस् क्रियाश्चक्रे महामुनिः
The great sage performed all auspicious rites for the child, thirteen in number, beginning with the birth ceremony.
पड्वक्रस्य तु मांहात्म्यं कुक्कुटस्य तु साधनम्। शक्त्या देव्याः साधनं च तथा पारिषदामषि
He established the greatness of the peacock, the power of the rooster, the accomplishment of the goddess by her energy, and likewise the accomplishment of the attendants.
विश्वामित्रश्चकारैतत्कर्म लोकहिताय वै। तस्मादृषिः कुमारस् विश्वामित्रोऽभवत्प्रियः
Viśvāmitra performed these acts for the welfare of the world; therefore, the sage became dear to Kumāra.
अन्वजानाच्च स्वाहाया रूपान्यत्वं महामुनिः। अब्रवीच्च मुनीन्सर्वाननापराध्यन्ति वै स्त्रियः। श्रुत्वा तु तत्वतस्तस्मात्ते पत्नीः सर्वतोत्यजन्
The great sage understood the various forms of Svāhā, and said to all the sages, 'Women do not commit offenses.' Hearing this, they abandoned their wives everywhere.
स्कन्दं श्रुत्वा तदा देवा वासवं सहिताऽब्रुवन्। अविषह्यं वलं स्कन्दं जहि शक्राशु माचिर्
Then, upon hearing of Skanda, the gods together with Vāsava said, 'Skanda's strength is unbearable; slay him quickly, O Śakra.'
यदि वा न निहंस्येनमद्येन्द्रोऽयं भविष्यति। त्रैलोक्यं सन्निगृह्यास्मांस्त्वां च शक्र महाबला
'If you do not kill him today, he will become Indra; he will subdue the three worlds, us, and you, O Śakra, with his great power.'