धनिष्ठादिस्तदा कालो ब्रह्मणा परिकल्पितः। पूर्वकाले रोहिण्यारम्भे एव चन्द्र, सूर्य एवं गुरोः योगं भवति स्म। - टिप्पणी रोहिणी ह्यभवत्पूर्वमेवं सङ्ख्या समाभवत्
At that time, the period beginning with Dhanishtha was established by Brahma; in earlier times, when Rohini began, the Moon, the Sun, and Jupiter were in conjunction. (Note: Rohini was previously the first, thus the count was so.)
एवमुक्ते तु शक्रेण त्रिदिवं कृत्तिका गताः। नक्षत्रं सप्तशीर्षाभंं इति पाठभेदः नक्षत्रं शकटाकारं भाति तद्वह्निदैवतम्
When Shakra had spoken thus, the Krittikas went to heaven; the constellation, resembling a cart or with seven heads, shines there, and its deity is Agni.
विनता चाब्रवीत्स्कन्दं मम त्वं पिण्डदः सुतः। इच्छामि नित्यमेवाहं त्वया पुत्र सहासितुम्
Then Vinata said to Skanda, 'You are my son, the giver of offerings; I wish always, O son, to be with you.'
एवमस्तु नमस्तेऽस्तु पुत्रस्नेहात्प्रशाधि माम्। स्नुषया पूज्यमाना वै देवि वत्स्यसि नित्यदा
'So be it, and salutations to you. Out of affection for a son, rule over me. Honored by your daughter-in-law, O goddess, you shall always dwell here.'
अथ मातृगणः सर्वः स्कन्दं वचनमब्रवीत्। वयं सर्वस्य लोकस्य मातरः कविभिः स्तुताः। इच्छामो मातरस्तुभ्यं भवितुं पूजयस्व नः
Then all the Mothers spoke to Skanda: 'We are praised by poets as the mothers of all the worlds; we wish to be your mothers—honor us.'
तासां तु वचनं श्रुत्वास्कन्दो वचनमब्रवीत्'। मातरो हि भवत्यो मे भवतीनामहं सुतः। उच्यतां यन्मया कार्यं भवतीनामथेप्सितम्
Hearing their words, Skanda replied: 'You are indeed my mothers, and I am your son. Tell me what you desire me to do for you.'
यास्तु ता मातरः पूर्वं लोकस्यास्य प्रकल्पिताः। अस्माकं तु भवेत्स्थानं तासां चैव न तद्भवेत्
'Those mothers who were previously appointed for this world, let our place be theirs, and not theirs ours.'
भवेम पूज्या लोकस्य न ताः पूज्याः सुरर्षभ। प्रजाऽस्माकं हृतास्ताभिस्त्वत्कृते ताः प्रयच्छ नः
'Let us be honored by the world, not they, O best of gods. The offspring taken by them, for your sake, return to us.'
वृत्ताः प्रजा न ताः प्रक्या भवतीभिर्निषेवितुम्। अन्प्रां वः कां प्रयच्छामि प्रजां यां मनसेच्छथा
'The offspring are gone; those cannot be attended by you. I will grant you whatever offspring you desire in your minds.'
इच्चाम तासां मातॄणां प्रजा भोक्तुं प्रयच्छ नः। त्वया सह पृथग्भूता ये च तासामथेश्वराः
'We wish to enjoy the offspring of those mothers—grant them to us, those who are separate from you, and their lords as well.'
प्रजा वो दद्मि कष्टं तु भवतीभिरुदाहृतम्। परिरक्षत भद्रं वः प्रजा साधुनमस्कृताः
'I give you offspring, though it is a difficult request you have made. Protect them—may it be well for you—those offspring who are properly honored.'
परिरक्षाम भद्रं ते प्रजाः स्कन्द यथेच्छसि। त्वया नो रोचते स्कन्द सहवासश्चिरंप्रभो
'We will protect your offspring, O Skanda, as you wish. We desire, O lord, to dwell with you for a long time.'
यावत्षोडश वर्षाणि भवन्ति तरुणाः प्रजाः। प्रबाधत मनुष्याणां तावद्रूपैः पृथग्विधैः
'For as long as sixteen years, the offspring remain youthful; for that period, trouble humans in various forms.'
अहं च वः प्रदास्यामि रौद्रमात्मानमव्ययम्। परमं तेन सहिताः सुखं वत्स्यथ पूजिताः
'And I will give you my fierce, imperishable form; with that, you shall live happily, honored.'
ततः शरीरात्स्कन्दस्य परुषः पावकप्रभः। भोक्तुं प्रजाः स मर्त्यानां निष्पपात महाबलः
Then, from Skanda's body, a harsh, fire-bright being emerged, powerful, to consume the offspring of mortals.
अपतत्सहसा भूमौ विसंज्ञोऽथ क्षुधार्दितः। स्कन्देन सोऽभ्यनुज्ञातो रौद्ररूपोऽभवद्ग्रहः
He suddenly fell to the earth, unconscious and afflicted by hunger; permitted by Skanda, he became a fierce spirit.
स्कन्दापस्मार इत्याहुर्गृहं तं द्विजसत्तमाः। विनता तु महारौद्रा कथ्यते शकुनिग्रहः
The best of twice-born say he is called Skanda-apasmara; Vinata, however, is said to be the terrible bird-demon.
मातॄणां राक्षसंप्राहुस्तं विद्यात्पूतनाग्रहम्। कष्टा दारुणरूपेण घोररूपा निशाचरी
The Mothers are said to have a demon among them, known as the Putana-spirit; she is harsh, dreadful in form, and a fearsome night-wanderer.
पशाची रदारुणाकारा कथ्यते शीतपूतना। गर्भान्सा मानुषीणां तु हरते घोरदर्शना
The demoness known as Paśācī, with blood-red teeth, is called Śītapūtanā; she, terrifying in appearance, seizes the embryos of human women.
अदितिं रेवतीं प्राहुर्ग्रहस्तस्यास्तु रैवतः। सोऽपि बालान्महागोरो बाधते वै महाग्रहः
Aditi is called Revatī, and her planet is Raivata; that great and dreadful planet also afflicts children.
दैत्यानां या दितिर्माता तामाहुर्मुखमण्डिकाम्। अत्यर्थं शिशुमांसेन संप्रहृष्टा दुरासदा
The one who is called Diti, mother of the Daityas, is known as Mukhamanḍikā; she is exceedingly delighted by the flesh of infants and is difficult to approach.
कुमाराश्च कुमार्यश् ये प्रोक्ताः स्कन्दसंभवाः। तेऽपि गर्भभुजः सर्वे कौरव्यसुमहाग्रहाः
The boys and girls said to be born from Skanda are also all devourers of embryos, O Kauravya, and are great and powerful spirits.
तासामेव तु पत्नीनां पतयस्ते प्रकीर्तिताः। आजायमानान्गृह्णन्ति बालकान्रौद्रकर्मणः
The husbands of these very wives are also mentioned; they seize newborn children and perform fierce deeds.
गवां माता तु या प्राज्ञैः कथ्यते सुरभिर्नृप। शकुनिस्तामथारुह्यसह भुङ्क्ते शिशून्भुवि
The one who is called Surabhi by the wise, the mother of cows, O King, is mounted by a bird and together they devour calves on earth.
सरमा नाम या माता शुनां देवी जनाधिप। साऽपिगर्भान्समादत्ते मानुषीणां सदैव हि
Saramā, the goddess who is known as the mother of dogs, O lord of men, also always takes the embryos of human women.
पादपानां च या माता करञ्जनिलया हि सा। वरदा सा हि सौम्या च नित्यं भूतानुकम्पिनी
The mother of trees, who dwells in the karañja tree, is a bestower of boons, gentle, and always compassionate to beings.
करञ्जे तां नमस्यन्ति तस्मात्पुत्रार्थिनो नराः। इमे त्वष्टादशान्ये वै ग्रहा मांसमधुप्रियाः
Therefore, those who desire sons worship her in the karañja tree; these are the eighteen other spirits who delight in flesh and honey.
द्विपञ्चरात्रं तिष्ठन्ति सततं सूतिकागृहे। कद्रूः सूक्ष्मवपुर्भूत्वा गर्भिणीं प्रविशत्यथ
They remain constantly in the birthing chamber for two or five nights; Kadrū, taking a subtle form, then enters a pregnant woman.
भुङ्क्ते सा तत्र तं गर्भं सा तु नागं प्रसूयते। गन्धर्वाणां तु या माता सा गर्भं गृह्य गच्छति
There she devours the embryo and then gives birth to a serpent; the mother of the Gandharvas, taking the embryo, departs.
ततो विलीनगर्भा सा मानुषी भुवि दृश्यते। या जनित्री त्वप्सरसां गर्भमास्ते प्रगृह्य सा
Then, with the embryo dissolved, she appears as a human woman on earth; the mother of the Apsarases, having seized the embryo, keeps it.