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.
अरजे वाससी रक्ते वसानः पावकात्मजः। भाति दीप्तवपुः श्रमान्रक्ताभ्राभ्यामिवांशुमान्
Clad in spotless red garments, the son of fire shines with a radiant form, like the sun with rays colored by red clouds.
कुक्कुटश्चाग्निना दत्तस्तस् केतुरलंकृतः। रथे समुच्छितो भाति कालाग्निरव लोहितः
A rooster, given by Agni, serves as his emblem, adorned and placed upon his chariot; he shines, fierce as the black fire, with a red hue.
या चेष्टा सर्वभूतानां प्रभा शक्तिर्बलं तथा। अग्रतस्तस्य सा शक्तिर्देवानां जयवर्धनी
Whatever movement, radiance, power, and strength exist among all beings, that power stands foremost for him, increasing the gods’ victory.
विवेश कवचं चास्य शरीरं सहजं तथा। युध्यमानस्य देवस्य प्रादुर्भवति तत्सदा
His armor and innate body entered him; whenever the god fights, these always manifest.
शक्तिर्धर्मो बलं तेजः कान्तत्वं सत्यमुन्नतिः। ब्रह्मण्यत्वमसंमोहो भक्तानां परिरक्षणम्
Power, righteousness, strength, brilliance, beauty, truth, elevation, devotion to Brahman, clarity, and protection of devotees—
निकृन्तनं च शत्रूणां लोकानां चाभिरक्षणम्। स्कन्देन सह जातानि सर्वाण्येव जनाधिप
The destruction of enemies and the safeguarding of worlds—all these arose together with Skanda, O lord of men.
एवं देवगणैः सर्वैः सोऽभिषिक्तः स्वलंकृतः। बभौ प्रतीतः सुमनाः परिपूर्णेन्दुदर्शनः
Thus, anointed and adorned by all the hosts of gods, he shone, confident and joyful, with the appearance of a full moon.
इष्टैः स्वाध्यायघोषैश्च देवतूर्यवरैरपि। देवगन्धर्वगीतैश्च सर्वैरप्सरसां गणैः
With desired recitations of sacred study, divine trumpets, songs of Gandharvas, and all the groups of Apsaras,
एतैश्चान्यैश्च बहुभिस्तुष्टैर्हृष्टैः स्वलंकृतः। [सुसंवृतः पिशाचानां गणैर्देवगणैस्तथा।] क्रीडन्भाति तदा देवैरभिषिक्तश्च पावकिः
And with many others, pleased and adorned, surrounded by the hosts of Pisacas and gods, he played and shone, anointed by the gods, the son of fire.
अभिषिक्तं महासेनमपश्यन्त दिवौकसः। विनिहत्य तमः सूर्यं यथैवाभ्युदितं तथा
The dwellers of heaven beheld Mahasena anointed, as the sun rises dispelling darkness.
अथैनमभ्ययुः सर्वा देवसेनाः सहस्रशः। अस्माकं त्वं पतिरिति ब्रुवाणाः सर्वतो दिशः
Then all the divine armies approached him by the thousands from every direction, declaring, 'You are our lord.'
ताः समासाद्य भगवान्सर्वभूतगणैर्वृतः। अर्चितस्तु स्तुतश्चैव सान्त्वयामास ता अपि
Having met them, the blessed one, surrounded by all the hosts of beings, was worshipped and praised, and he comforted them as well.
शतक्रतुश्चाभिषिच्य स्कन्दं सेनापतिं तदा। सस्मार तां देवसेनां या सा तेन विमोक्षिता
Then Indra anointed Skanda as the commander of the army, and remembered that divine army which had been freed by him.
अयं तस्याः पतिर्नूनं विहितो ब्रह्मणा स्वयम्। संचिन्त्य त्वानयामास देवसेनां ह्यलंकृताम्
Surely, he has been appointed as her husband by Brahma himself; reflecting on this, he brought the adorned Devaseṇā here.
स्कन्दं प्रोवाच बलभिदियं कन्या सुरोत्तम। अजाते त्वयि निर्दिष्टा तव पत्नी स्वयंभुवा
Indra said to Skanda, the breaker of hosts: 'O best of gods, this maiden was designated by the Self-born as your wife before you were born.'
तस्मात्त्वमस्या विधिवत्पाणिं मन्त्रपुरस्कृतम्। गृहाण दक्षिणं देव्याः पाणिना पद्मवर्चसा
Therefore, according to the proper rite, take her hand, sanctified by mantras, with your lotus-bright hand, as the right hand of the goddess.
एवमुक्तः स जग्राह तस्याः पाणिं यथाविधि। बृहस्पतिर्मन्त्रविद्धि जजाप च जुहाव च
Thus addressed, he took her hand as prescribed; Bṛhaspati, knower of mantras, recited the hymns and performed the oblation.
एवं स्कन्दस्य महिषीं देवसेनां विदुर्जनाः। षष्ठीं यां ब्राह्मणाः प्राहुर्लक्ष्मीमासां सुखप्रदाम्
Thus people know Devaseṇā as Skanda’s queen, whom the Brāhmaṇas call Ṣaṣṭhī, Lakṣmī, and the bestower of happiness to women.
सिनीबालीं कुहूं चैव सद्वृत्तिमपराजिताम्। `इत्येवमादिभिर्देवी नामभिः परिकीर्त्यते
She is also praised by such names as Sinīvālī, Kuhū, Sadvṛtti, and Aparājitā, O goddess.
यदा स्कन्दः पतिर्लब्धः शाश्वतो देवसेनया। तदा तमाश्रयल्लक्ष्मीः स्वयं देवी शरीरिणी
When Skanda became the eternal husband of Devaseṇā, then Lakṣmī herself, the embodied goddess, took refuge in him.