यदा रुद्ररथं क्रुद्धो महिषः सहसा गतः। रेसतू रोदसी गाढं मुमुहुश् महर्षयः
When the furious Mahiṣa suddenly reached Rudra's chariot, the heavens resounded deeply, and the great sages were struck with dismay.
अनदंश्चमहाकाया दैत्या जलधरोपमाः। आसीच्चनिश्चितं तेषां जितमस्माभिरित्युत
The mighty-bodied Daityas, like thunderclouds, roared aloud, and it seemed uncertain to them whether victory was theirs.
तथाभूते तु भगवानाहूय गुहमात्मजम्। `दौरात्म्यं पश्य पुतर् त्वं दानवस्य दुरात्मनः। जहि शीघ्रं दुराचारं द्रष्टुमिच्छामि ते बलम्
Then the Blessed Lord summoned Guha's son and said: 'See, my son, the wickedness of this evil-natured Dānava. Quickly slay this evildoer—I wish to witness your strength.'
इत्युक्ताव भगवान्स्कन्दं परिपूज्य महेश्वरः। अयोजयन्निग्रहार्थं महिषस् गतायुषः'। सस्मार च तदा स्कन्दं मृत्युं तस्य दुरात्मनः
Thus addressed, the Blessed Lord, having honored Skanda, appointed him to subdue the now-doomed Mahiṣa, and at that moment, he invoked Skanda as the death of that wicked one.
महिषोऽपि रथं दृष्ट्वा रौद्रं रुद्रस् चानदत्। देवान्संत्रासयंश्चापि दैत्यांस्चापिप्रहर्षयत्
Even the buffalo, seeing the fierce chariot and Rudra, roared; he terrified the gods and delighted the demons.
ततस्तस्मिनभये घोरे देवानां समुपस्थिते। आजगाम महासेनः क्रोधात्सूर्य इव ज्वलन्
Then, as that dreadful danger approached the gods, Mahasena arrived, blazing with anger like the sun.
लोहिताम्बरसंवीतो लोहितस्रग्विभूषणः। लोहिताश्वो महाबाहुर्हिरण्यकवचः प्रभुः
Clad in red garments, adorned with red garlands and ornaments, riding a red horse, mighty-armed, and wearing a golden armor, the lord appeared.
रथमादित्यसंकाशमास्थितः कनकप्रभम्। तं दृष्ट्वा दैत्यसेना सा व्यद्रवत्सहसा रणे
He mounted a chariot shining like the sun, radiant with gold; seeing him, the demon army fled swiftly in battle.
स चापि तां प्रज्वलितां महिषस् विदारिणीम्। मुमोच शक्तिं राजेनद्र महासेनो महाबलः
Mahasena, of great strength, released a blazing spear, capable of tearing, at the buffalo in the fight.
सा मुक्ताऽभ्यहरत्तस्य महिषस्य शिरो महत्। पपात भिन्ने शिरसि महिषस्त्यक्तजीवितः
Released, it struck the buffalo's great head; his head split, the buffalo fell, life departed.
पतता शिरसा तेन द्वारं षोडशयोजनम्। पर्वताभेन पिहितं तदाऽगम्यं ततोऽभवत्। उत्तराः कुरवस्तेन गच्छन्त्यद्य यथासुम्
With the falling head, a gate sixteen yojanas wide, blocked by a mountain, became impassable; since then, the northern Kurus travel as they do today.
क्षिप्ताक्षिप्ता तु सा शक्तिर्हत्वा शत्रून्सहस्रशः। स्कन्दहस्तमनुप्राप्ता दृश्यते देवदानवैः
That spear, thrown and thrown again, after slaying thousands of enemies, returned to Skanda's hand, witnessed by gods and demons.
प्रायः शरैर्विनिहता महासेनेन धीमता। शेषा दैत्यगणा घोरा भीतास्त्रस्ता दुरासदैः। स्कन्दपारिषदैर्हत्वा भक्षिताश्च सहस्रशः
Most of the demon hosts, fierce and hard to approach, were slain by the wise Mahasena's arrows; the rest, killed and devoured by Skanda's attendants, perished by the thousands.
दनवान्भक्षयन्तस्ते प्रपिबन्तश्च शोणितम्। क्षणान्निर्दानवं सर्वमकार्षुर्भृशहर्षिताः
They devoured the demons and drank their blood; in a moment, they made the whole field free of demons, rejoicing greatly.
तमांसीवयथा सूर्यो वृक्षानग्निर्घनान्खगः। तथास्कन्दोऽजयच्छत्रून्स्वेन वीर्येण कीर्तिमान्
Just as the sun dispels darkness, fire consumes trees, and the bird scatters clouds, so Skanda, renowned for his strength, conquered his enemies.
संपूज्यमानस्त्रिदशैरभिवाद्य महेश्वरम्। शुशुभे कृतिकापुत्रः प्रकीरणांशुरिवांशुमान्
Honored by the gods, bowing to Maheshvara, the son of Kritika shone like the radiant moon scattering its beams.
नष्टशत्रुर्यदा स्कन्दः प्रयातस्तु महेश्वरम्। तदाऽब्रवीन्महासेनं परिष्वज्य पुरंदरः
When Skanda, his enemies destroyed, went to Maheshvara, Purandara embraced Mahasena and spoke.
ब्रह्मदत्तवरः स्कन्द त्वयाऽयं महिषो हतः। `हजय्यो युधि देवानां दानवः स महाबलः
Skanda, this buffalo was slain by you, granted a boon by Brahma; that mighty demon was unconquerable by the gods in battle.
देवास्तृणसमा यस्य वबूवुर्जयतांवर। सोऽयं त्वया महाबाहो शमितो देवकण्टकः
The gods, who seemed like blades of grass before his victory, have been freed by you, mighty-armed, from this thorn among the gods.
शतं महिषतुल्यानां दानवानां त्वय रणे। निहतंदेवशत्रूणां यैर्वयं पूर्वतापिताः
A hundred demon enemies, equal to the buffalo, were slain by you in battle—those who had previously tormented us.
तावकैर्भक्षिताश्चान्ये दानवाः शतसङ्घशः। अजेयस्त्वं रणेऽरीणामुमापतिरिव प्रभुः
Many other demons, in groups of hundreds, were devoured by your followers; you are unconquerable in battle by enemies, O lord, like the spouse of Uma.
एतत्ते प्रथमं देव ख्यातं कर्म भविष्यति। त्रिषु लोकेषु कीर्तिश्च तवाक्षय्या भविष्यति। वशगाश्च भविष्यनति सुरास्तव महाभुज
This, O god, will be your first renowned deed; your fame will be imperishable in the three worlds, and the gods will be subject to you, mighty-armed.
महासेनमेवमुक्त्वा निवृत्तः सह दैवतैः। अनुज्ञातो भगवता त्र्यम्बकेण शचीपतिः
Having thus spoken to the great army, the lord of Śacī withdrew together with the gods, having been permitted by the blessed Tryambaka.
गतो भद्रवटंरुद्रो निवृत्ताश्च दिवौकसः। उक्ताश्च देवा रुद्रेण स्कन्दं पश्यत मामिव
Rudra went to Bhadravaṭa, and the gods also departed; and Rudra said to the gods, 'Behold Skanda as you behold me.'
स हत्वा दानवगणान्पूज्यमानो महर्षिभिः। एकाह्नैवाजयत्सर्वं त्रैलोक्यं वह्निनन्दनः
Having slain the hosts of Dānavas, and being worshipped by the great sages, the son of Agni conquered all the three worlds in a single day.
स्कन्दस् य इदं विप्रः पठेज्जन्म समाहितः। `शृणुयाद्ब्राह्मणेभ्यो यः श्रावयेद्वाविचेतनम्
Whoever, being attentive, recites this birth of Skanda, O brāhmaṇa, or hears it from brāhmaṇas, or causes it to be heard by those lacking understanding—
धनमायुर्यशो दीप्तिं पुत्राञ्शत्रुजयंतथा'। सपुष्टिमिहसंप्राप्य स्कन्दसालोक्यमाप्नुयात्
He attains wealth, long life, fame, brilliance, sons, victory over enemies, and prosperity in this world, and reaches the vision of Skanda.
भगवञ्श्रोतुमिच्छामि नामानि च महात्मनः। तरिषु लोकेषु यान्यस्य विख्यातानि द्विजोत्तम
O blessed one, I wish to hear the names of the great-souled one, those which are renowned among the worlds, O best of twice-born.
इत्युक्तः पाण्डवेयेन महात्मा ऋषिसन्निधौ। उवाच भगवांस्तत्र मार्कण्डेयो महातपाः
Thus addressed by the descendant of Pāṇḍu in the presence of the great sage, the blessed and greatly austere Mārkaṇḍeya spoke there.
आगेयश्चैव स्कनदश्च दीप्तकीर्तिरनामयः। मयूरकेतुर्धर्मात्मा भूतेशो महिषार्दनः
Āgeya, Skanda, blazing in fame, free from illness, Mayūraketu, righteous-souled, lord of beings, slayer of Mahiṣa—