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.
दानवानां विनाशाय देवानामर्थसिद्धये। गोब्राह्मणहितार्थाय सैनापत्येऽभिषिञ्च माम्
For the destruction of the Dānavas, for the accomplishment of the gods' aims, and for the welfare of cows and Brahmins, anoint me as commander of the army.
सोऽभिषिक्तो मघवता सर्वैर्देवगणैः सह। अतीव शुशुभे तत्र पूज्यमानो महर्षिभिः
Thus anointed by Maghavat, together with all the hosts of gods, he shone greatly there, honored by the great sages.
तत्र तत्काञ्चनं छत्रं ध्रियमाणं व्यरोचत। तथैव सुसमिद्धस्य पावकस्यात्ममण्डलम्
There, the golden umbrella held above him gleamed, as did the radiant aura of blazing fire.
विश्वकर्मकृता चास्य दिव्या माला हिरण्मयी। आबद्धा त्रिपुरघ्नेन स्वयमेव यशस्विना
And a divine garland of gold, made by Viśvakarman, was fastened on him by the illustrious destroyer of Tripura himself.
आगम्य मनुजव्याघ्र सह देव्या परंतप। अर्चयामास सुप्रीतो भगवान्गोवृषध्वजः
Having arrived, O tiger among men, together with his queen, the blessed Lord, bearer of the bull-banner, joyfully offered worship.
रुद्रमग्निं द्विजाः प्राहू रुद्रसूनुस्ततस्तु सः। `कीर्त्यते सुमहातेजाः कुमारोऽद्भुतदर्शनः
The twice-born summoned Rudra and Agni; then the son of Rudra, renowned and possessing immense brilliance, is called Kumara, wondrous in appearance.
रुद्रेण शुक्रमुत्सृष्टं तच्छ्वेतः पर्वतोऽभवत्। पावकस्येनद्रियं श्वेते कृत्तिकाभिः कृतं नगे
The seed released by Rudra became the white mountain; the dwelling of the fire-god on that white peak was made by the Krittikas.
पूज्यमानं तु रुद्रेण दृष्ट्वा सर्वेदिवौकसः। रुद्रसूनुं ततः प्राहुर्गुहं गुणवतांवरम्
Seeing Rudra being worshipped, all the dwellers of heaven addressed the son of Rudra as Guha, the foremost among the virtuous.
अनुप्रविश्य रुद्रेण वह्निं जातो ह्ययं शिशुः। तत्र जातस्ततः स्कन्दो रुद्रसूनुस्ततोऽभवत्
Entering the fire by Rudra, this child was born; there Skanda was born, thus becoming the son of Rudra.
रुद्रस्य वह्नेः स्वाहायाः षण्णां स्त्रीणां च तेजसा। जातः स्कन्दः सुरश्रेष्ठो रुद्रसूनुस्ततोऽभवत्
From the energy of Rudra, Agni, Svaha, and the six women, Skanda was born, the best among the gods, thus becoming the son of Rudra.