अग्निर्भूत्वा ततश्चैनं छागवक्रो बहुप्रजः। रमयामास शैलस्थं बलं क्रीडनकैरिव
Then, taking the form of fire, he, with the head of a goat and many offspring, delighted the child stationed on the mountain, as if with playthings.
ततः प्रकल्प्य पुत्रत्वे स्कन्दं मातृगणोऽगमत्। काकी च हलिमा चैव माता चाथ हली तथा। आर्या बाला च धात्री च सप्तैता शिशुमातरः
Then the host of Mothers approached Skanda, establishing him as their son: Kaki, Halima, Mata, Hali, Arya, Bala, and Dhatri—these seven are the Mothers of the child.
एतासां वीर्यसंपन्नः शिशुर्नामातिदारुणः। स्कन्दप्रसादजः पुत्रो लोहिताक्षो भयंकरः
From these, a child of great vigor was born, named Atidāruṇa, the son born from Skanda's favor, red-eyed and terrifying.
एष वीरोऽष्टमः प्रोक्तः स्कन्दो मातृगणोद्भवः। छागवक्रेण सहितो नवमः परिकीर्त्यते
This is the eighth hero, said to have arisen from the host of Mothers with Skanda; together with Chāgavakra, he is counted as the ninth.
षष्ठं छागमयं वक्रं स्कन्दस्यैवेति विद्धि तम्। षट्शिरोभ्यन्तरं राजन्नित्यं मातृगणार्चितम्
Know that the sixth, Chāgavakra, is goat-headed and belongs to Skanda; he is the inner sixth head, always worshipped by the host of Mothers, O King.
षण्णां तु प्रवरं तस्य शीर्षाणामिह शब्द्यते। शक्तिं येनासृजद्दिव्यां भद्रशाख इति स्म ह
Among his six heads, the foremost is called Bhadraśākha, by which he created the divine spear.
इत्येतद्द्विविधाकारं वृत्तं शुक्लस्य पञ्चमीम्। तत्र युद्धं महाघोरं वृत्तं षष्ठ्यां जनाधिप
Thus, this twofold event occurred on the fifth day of the bright fortnight; on the sixth, O lord of men, a great and terrible battle took place.
उपविष्टं तु तं स्कन्दमामुक्तकवचस्रजम्। हिरण्यचूडमुकुटं हिरण्यांक्षं महाप्रभम्
There sat Skanda, adorned with armor and garlands, wearing a golden crown, with golden eyes, and of great splendor.
लोहिताम्बरसंवीतं तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रं मनोरमम्। सर्वलक्षणसंपन्नं त्रैलोक्यस्यापि सुप्रियम्
Clad in red garments, with sharp fangs, charming, endowed with all auspicious marks, and dearly loved even by the three worlds.
ततस्तं वरदं शूरं युवानं मृष्टकुण्डलम्। अभजत्पद्मरूपा श्रीः स्वयमेव शरीरिणी
Then, the goddess Śrī herself, in the form of a lotus, chose that youthful, heroic, boon-giving one, adorned with shining earrings.
श्रिया जुष्टः पृथुयशाः स कुमारो वरस्तदा। निषण्णो दृश्यते भूतैः पौर्णमास्यां यथा शशी
Endowed with fortune and great fame, that prince, resplendent, is seen by the beings as the full moon on the night of the full moon.
अपूजयन्महात्मानो ब्राह्मणास्तं महाबलम्
The great-souled Brahmins worshipped that mighty one.
इदमाहुस्तदा चैव स्कन्दं तत्र महर्षयः
And then, the great sages spoke these words to Skanda there.
हिरण्यवर्ण भद्रं ते लोकानां शंकरो भव। त्वया षड्रात्रजातेन सर्वे लोका वशीकृताः
O golden-hued one, may good befall you; be the benefactor of the worlds. By your birth on the sixth night, all the worlds have been brought under control.
अभयंच पुनर्दत्तं त्वयैवैषां सुरोत्तम। तस्मादिन्द्रो भवानस्तु त्रैलोक्यस्याभयंकरः
And you have again granted safety to these excellent gods; therefore, become Indra, the giver of safety to the three worlds.
किमिन्द्रः सर्वलोकानां करोतीह तपोधनाः। कथं देवगणांश्चैव पाति नित्यं सुरेश्वरः
What does Indra do for all the worlds, O ascetics? How does the lord of the gods always protect the hosts of gods?
इन्द्रो दधाति भूतानां बलं तेजः प्रजाः सुखम्। तुष्टः प्रयच्छति तथा सर्वान्कामान्सुरेश्वरः
Indra grants to beings their strength, energy, offspring, and happiness; when pleased, the lord of the gods bestows upon all their desires.
दुर्वृत्तानां संहरति व्रतस्थानां प्रयच्छति। अनुशास्ति च भूतानि कार्येषु बलसूदनः
He destroys the wicked and rewards those who observe their vows; the subduer of force also governs beings in their duties.
असूर्ये च भवेत्सूर्यस्तथाऽचनद्रे च चन्द्रमाः। भवत्यग्निश्च वायुश्च पृथिव्यापश्च स्वं तथा
Where there is no sun, the sun appears; likewise, where there is no moon, the moon arises; so too fire, wind, earth, and water each manifest in their own realms.
एतदिन्द्रेण कर्तव्यमिन्द्रे हि विपुलं बलम्। त्वं च वीर बली श्रेष्ठस्तस्मादिन्द्रो भवस्व न
This is the duty of Indra, for Indra possesses immense power; and you, O hero, are the mightiest of the strong—therefore, you should become Indra, not I.
भवस्वेन्द्रो महाबाहो सर्वेषां नः सुखावहः। अभिषिच्यस्व चैवाद्य प्राप्तरूपोऽसि सत्तम
Become Indra, O mighty-armed one, bringing happiness to us all; be anointed today, for you are truly worthy, O best of beings.
शाधि त्वमेव त्रैलोक्यमव्याग्रे निजये रतः। अहं ते किंकरः शक्र न ममेन्द्रत्वमीप्सितम्
Rule over the three worlds yourself, unwavering and intent on victory; I am your servant, O Shakra, for I do not desire the position of Indra.
बलंतवाद्भुतं वीर त्वं देवानामरीञ्जहि। अवज्ञास्यन्ति मां लोका वीर्यण तव विस्मिताः
Your strength is wondrous, O hero; you should defeat the enemies of the gods; the worlds, amazed by your power, would disregard me.
इन्द्रत्वे तु स्थितं वीर बलहीनं पराजितम्। `त्वत्तेजसाऽवमंस्यन्ति लोका मां सुरसत्तम
If a powerless, defeated one were to hold the station of Indra, O best of gods, the worlds would look down on me because of your brilliance.
आवयोश्च मिथो भेदे प्रयतिष्यन्त्यतन्द्रिताः। भेदिते च त्वयि विभो लोको द्वैधमुपेष्यति
If there were discord between us, the tireless ones would strive for division; and if you, O lord, were divided, the world would fall into duality.
द्विधाभूतेषु लोकेषु निश्चितेष्वावयोस्तथा। विग्रहः संप्रवर्तेत भूतभेदान्महाबल
When the worlds are split in two and our positions are thus determined, conflict would arise, O mighty one, from the divisions among beings.
तत्र त्वं मां रणे तात यथाश्रद्धं विजेष्यसि। तस्मादिन्द्रो भवानेव भविता मा विचारय
Then, O dear one, you would defeat me in battle as you see fit; therefore, you alone should become Indra—do not hesitate.
त्वमेव राजा भद्रं ते त्रैलोक्यस्य ममैव च। करोमि किं च तेशक्र शासनात्तद्ब्रवीहि मे
You alone are king—may good be yours—of the three worlds and mine as well; tell me, O Shakra, what you wish me to do by your command.
अहमिन्द्रो भविष्यामि तव वाक्यान्महाबल। यदि सत्यमिदं वाक्यं निश्चयाद्भाषितं त्वया
I shall become Indra, O mighty one, according to your words, if this statement of yours is truly spoken with firm resolve.
यदि वा शासनं स्कन्द कर्तुमिच्छसि मे शृणु। अभिषिच्यस्व देवानां सैनापत्ये महाबल
Or if you wish, O Skanda, to carry out my command, listen: be anointed as the commander of the gods' army, O mighty one.