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.
तस्य शब्देन महता समुद्धूतोदधिप्रभम्। वभ्राम तत्रतत्रैव दैवसैन्यमचेतनम्
By that great sound, which resembled the uprising of the ocean, the unconscious army of the gods was thrown into confusion here and there.
जिधांसूनुपसंप्राप्तान्देवान्दृष्ट्वा सपावकिः। विससर्ज मुखात्क्रुद्धः प्रवृद्धाः पावकार्चिषः
Seeing the gods, who had come near desiring to fight, the son of Pāvaka, enraged, released from his mouth blazing flames of fire.
अदहद्देवसैन्यानि वेपमानानि भूतले
He burned the trembling armies of the gods upon the earth.
ते प्रदीप्तशिरोदेहाः प्रदीप्तायुधवाहनाः। प्रच्युताः सहसा भान्ति चित्रास्तारागणा इव
Those with blazing heads and bodies, with flaming weapons and vehicles, suddenly fell, shining like clusters of bright stars.
दह्यमानाः प्रपन्नास्ते शरणं पावकात्मजम्। देवा वज्रधरं त्यक्त्वाततः शानतिमुपागताः
Burning, they sought refuge with the son of Pāvaka, abandoning the wielder of the thunderbolt, and thus the gods attained peace.
त्यक्तो देवैस्ततः स्कन्दे वज्रं शक्रो न्यपातयत्
Then, abandoned by the gods, Indra hurled his thunderbolt at Skanda.
तद्विसृष्टं जघानाशु पर्श्वं स्कन्दस्य दक्षिणम्। विभेद च महाराज पार्श्वं तस्य महात्मनः
That thunderbolt, swiftly released, struck Skanda’s right side, O king, and split the side of that great-souled one.
वज्रप्रहारात्स्कन्दस्य संजातः पुरुषोऽपरः। युवा काञ्चनसन्नाहः शक्तिधृग्दिव्यकुण्डलः
From the blow of the thunderbolt upon Skanda, another man was born—young, adorned with golden armor, bearing a spear, and with divine earrings.
यद्वज्रविशनाज्जातो विशाखस्तेन सोऽभवत्
Because he was born from the split caused by the thunderbolt, he became known as Viśākha.
तं जातमपरं दृष्ट्वा कालानलसमद्युतिम्। भयादिनद्रस्तुत तं स्कन्दं प्राञ्जलिः शरणं गतः
Seeing that other one born, radiant like the fire at the end of time, Indra, out of fear, praised Skanda with joined palms and sought his protection.