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.'
स तानुवाच व्यथितो वालोऽयं सुमहाबलः। स्रष्टारमपि लोकानां युधि विक्रम्य नाशयेत्। [न बालमुत्सहे हन्तुमिति शक्रः प्रभाषते
He replied to them, troubled, 'This boy is of immense strength; he could destroy even the creator of the worlds in battle by his prowess. I do not dare to kill a child,' said Śakra.
तेऽब्रुवन्नास्ति ते वीर्यं यत एवं प्रभासे।] सर्वास्त्वद्याभिगच्छन्तु स्कन्दं लोकस्य मातरः
They said, 'You have no strength, since you speak thus. Let all the mothers of the world approach Skanda today.'
कामवीर्या घ्नन्तु चैनं तथेत्युक्त्वा च ता ययुः। तमप्रतिबलं दृष्ट्वा विषण्णवदनास्तु ताः
Let the power of desire destroy him—so saying, they departed; seeing him without equal strength, their faces became dejected.
अशक्योऽयंविचिन्त्यैवं तमेव शरणं ययुः। ऊचुश्चैनं त्वमस्माकं पुत्रोऽस्माभिर्धृतंजगत्
Thinking, 'He cannot be overcome,' they sought refuge in him; they said to him, 'You are our son, the world is sustained by us.'
अभिनन्द्य ततः सर्वाः प्रस्नुताः स्नेहविक्लबाः। [तासां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पातुकामः स्तनान्प्रभुः]
Then, all of them, overflowing with affection and weakened by tenderness, rejoiced; hearing their words, the Lord wished to suckle their breasts.
ताः संपूज्य महासेनःकामांश्चासां प्रदाय सः। अपश्यदग्निमायान्तं पितरं बलिनां बली
Mahāsena honored them and fulfilled their desires; then, the mighty one saw Agni, his father, approaching.
स तु संपूजितस्तेन सह मातृगणेन ह। परिवार्य महासेनं रक्षमाणः स्थितः शिवः
Honored by him, together with the host of mothers, Śiva surrounded Mahāsena, standing guard and protecting him.
सर्वासां या तु मातॄणां नारी क्रोधसमुद्भवा। धात्री स्वपुत्रवत्स्कन्दं शूलहस्ताऽभ्यरक्षत
Among all the mothers, the woman born of wrath, the nurse, protected Skanda as her own son, holding a spear in her hand.
लोहितस्योदधेः कन्या क्रूरा लोहितभोजना। परिष्वज्य महासेनं पुत्रवत्पर्यरक्षत
The fierce daughter of the red ocean, who feeds on blood, embraced Mahāsena and guarded him as a son.
अग्निर्भूत्वा नैगमेयश्छागवक्रो बहुप्रजः। रमयामास शैलस्तं बालं क्रीडनकैरिव
Taking the form of Agni, Naigameya, with a goat's face and many offspring, delighted the child on the mountain with toys.
ब्रहाः सोपग्रहाश्चैव ऋषयो मातरस्तथा। हुताशनमुखाश्चैव दृप्ताः पारिषदां गणाः
The Brahmās with their satellites, the sages, the mothers, and the proud hosts of attendants born from the mouth of fire,
एते चान्ये च बहवो घोरास्त्रिदिववासिनः। परिवार्य महासेनं स्थिता मातृगणैः सह
These and many other fierce dwellers of heaven, together with the host of mothers, surrounded Mahāsena and stood by him.
संदिग्धं विजयं दृष्ट्वा विजयेप्सुः सुरेश्वरः। आरुह्यैरावतस्कन्धं प्रययौ दैवतैः सह
Seeing victory uncertain and desiring triumph, the lord of the gods mounted Airāvata's shoulder and departed with the deities.
आदाय वज्रं बवान्सर्वैर्देवगणैर्वृतः। विजिघांसुर्महासेनमिन्द्रस्तूर्णतरं ययौ
Taking up the thunderbolt and surrounded by all the hosts of gods, Indra swiftly advanced, intent on slaying Mahāsena.
इन्द्रस्तस्य महावेगं दृष्ट्वाऽद्भुतपराक्रमम्। विस्मितश्चाभवद्राजन्देवानीकमचोदयत्
Indra, seeing his great speed and wondrous valor, became astonished, O king, and urged the army of gods forward.
उग्रं तं च महानादं देवानीकं महाप्रभम्। विचित्रध्वजसन्नाहं नानावाहनकार्मुकम्
That fierce and mighty army of gods, resplendent, with varied banners and armor, with diverse mounts and bows,
प्रवराम्बरसंवीतं श्रिया जुष्टमलंकृतम्। विजिघांसुं तमायान्तं कुमारः शक्रमन्वयात्
Clad in excellent garments, adorned and radiant with glory, Kumāra advanced to meet Indra, who was approaching to slay him.
वियत्पतिः स शक्रस्तु द्रुतमायान्महाबलः। संहर्पयन्देवसेनां जिघांसुः पावकात्मजम्
The lord of the sky, Indra, of great might, came swiftly, assembling the divine army, intent on killing the son of fire.
संपूज्यमानस्त्रिदशैस्तथैव परमर्षिभिः। समीपमथ संप्राप्तो वह्निपुत्रस्य वासवः
Honored by the gods and the supreme sages, Vāsava then approached the son of Agni.
सिंहनादं ततश्चक्रे देवेशः सहितैः सुरैः। गुहोऽपिशब्दं तं श्रुत्वा व्यनदात्सागरो यथा
Then the lord of the gods, together with the deities, gave a lion's roar; Guha, hearing that sound, roared in reply like the ocean.