रुद्रांश्च भैरवांश्चैव शिवतुल्यपराक्रमान्
And the Rudras and Bhairavas, possessing valor equal to Shiva,
ते सर्वे शिवदूताश्च नानाशस्त्रास्त्रपाणयः
All of them, Shiva's attendants, wielding various weapons and missiles,
दृष्ट्वा तान्कृत्तिकाः सर्वा भयविह्वलमानसाः
Seeing them, all the Krittikas became overwhelmed with fear in their hearts.
कृत्तिका ऊचुः न जानीमो वयं कस्य करालानि च बालक
The Krittikas said: 'We do not know whose these fierce children are.'
कार्त्तिकेय उवाच दुर्निवार्य्यः कर्मपाको मातरः केन वार्य्यते
Kartikeya said: 'The result of karma is difficult to resist, mothers; by whom can it be prevented?'
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र सेनानीर्नन्दिकेश्वरः
Meanwhile, the commander Nandikesvara was present there.
नन्दिकेश्वर उवाच प्रेषितस्य सुरेन्द्रस्य संहर्तुः शंकरस्य च
Nandikesvara said: 'Sent by the lord of the gods and by Shiva, the destroyer,'
कैलासे सर्वदेवाश्च ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवादयः
On Kailasa, all the gods, including Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and others,
शैलेन्द्रकन्या तं विष्णुं जगतां परिपालकम्
The daughter of the mountain, to Vishnu, the protector of the worlds,
पप्रच्छ देवान्विष्णुस्तान्क्रमेणावाप्तिहेतवे
Vishnu questioned those gods, in turn, regarding the cause of attainment.
त्वमत्र कृत्तिकास्थाने कथयामासुरीश्वरम् या बभूव रहःक्रीडा पार्वतीशिवयोः पुरा
You, in the place of the Krittikas, narrated to the lord the secret play that once occurred between Parvati and Shiva.
दृष्टस्य च सुरैः शम्भोवीर्य्यं भूमौ पपात ह ततो लब्धः कृत्तिकाभिरमूभिर्गच्छ साम्प्रतम्
And the seed of Shiva, seen by the gods, fell upon the earth; then it was obtained by the Krittikas—go now with them.
तवाभिषेकं विष्णुश्च करिष्यति सुरैः सह पुत्रस्त्वं विश्वसंहर्त्तुस्त्वां गोप्तुं न क्षमा इमाः
Vishnu, together with the gods, will perform your consecration; you are the son of the destroyer of the universe, and these women are not able to protect you.
नाग्निं गोप्तुं यथा शक्तः शुष्कवृक्षः स्वकोटरे यथा पतन्महाकूपे द्विजराजो न राजते
Just as a dry tree in its hollow cannot protect fire, and as a king of birds does not shine when falling into a deep pit,
करोषि जगदालोकं नाच्छन्नोऽस्याङ्गतेजसा
You illuminate the world; you are not concealed by the radiance of their bodies.
विष्णुस्त्वं च जगद्व्यापी नासां व्याप्योऽसि शाम्भव
You are Vishnu, pervading the universe; you are not pervaded by them, O son of Shiva.
योगीन्द्रो नानुलिप्तस्त्वं भोगी च परिपोषणे
You are the foremost among yogis, untouched; and you are the enjoyer, sustaining all.
विश्वाधारस्त्वमीशश्च नामृते सम्भवेत्स्थितिः
You are the support of the universe and its lord; without you, existence would not be possible.
नहि सर्वेश्वरावासः सम्भवेत्कृत्तिकालये
Indeed, the abode of the Lord of all cannot exist in the house of the Krittikas.
त्वां च देवा न जानन्ति भक्तानुग्रह विग्रहम्
Even the gods do not know you, who are the embodiment of grace to devotees.
त्वामनिर्वचनीयं च कथं जानन्ति कृत्तिकाः
How could the Krittikas know you, who are indescribable?
भ्रातर्ये यं न जानन्ति ते तं कुर्वन्त्यनादरम्
Those who do not know their own brother treat him with disrespect.
कार्त्तिकेय उवाच ज्ञानी त्वं का प्रशंसा ते यतो मृत्युञ्जयाश्रितः
Kartikeya said: You are wise; what praise is due to you, since you are sheltered by the Conqueror of Death?
कर्मणा जन्म येषां वा यासु यासु च योनिषु
According to their actions and births, and in whatever wombs,
ये यत्र सन्ति सन्तो वा मूढा वा कर्मभोगतः
Wherever people exist, whether they are virtuous or deluded, it is due to the results of their actions.
साम्प्रतं जगतां माता विष्णुमाया सनातनी
At present, the eternal Vishnu's Maya is the mother of the worlds.
शैलेन्द्रपत्नी गर्भे सा चालभज्जन्म भारते
She, the wife of the lord of mountains, took birth in Bharata as an unborn child in the womb.
ब्रह्मादितृणपर्य्यन्तं सर्वं मिथ्यैव कृत्रिमम्
From Brahma down to a blade of grass, all is truly false and artificial.
कल्पे कल्पे जगन्माता माता मे प्रतिजन्मनि
In every age, the mother of the world is my mother in every birth.
प्रकृतेरुद्भवास्सत्यं जगत्यां सर्वयोषितः
Truly, all women in the world are born of Prakriti.