तासामहं पोष्यपुत्रो मदम्बाः पोषणादिमाः
Of them, I am the nourished son; my mothers are those who provide nourishment and more.
न गर्भजोऽहं शैलेन्द्रकन्याया नन्दिकेश्वर
O Nandikeshvara, I am not born from the womb of the daughter of the lord of mountains.
स्तनदात्री गर्भधात्री भक्ष्यदात्री गुरुप्रिया
She who gives milk, who bears in the womb, who gives food, who is dear to the teacher—
सगर्भकन्या भगिनी पुत्रपत्नी प्रियाप्रसूः
The daughter with child, the sister, the son's wife, the beloved who gives birth—
मातुः पितुश्च भगिनी मातुलानी तथैव च
The sister of one's mother and father, and likewise the maternal aunt—
इमाश्च सर्वसिद्धिज्ञाः परमैश्वर्य्यसंयुताः
All these are knowers of all perfections, endowed with supreme power.
विष्णुना प्रेरितस्त्वं च शम्भोः पुत्रसमो महान्
You are inspired by Vishnu and are equal to the son of Shiva, great in stature.
नारायण उवाच उवाच किंचिद्युक्तं च वचनं शङ्करात्मजः
Nārāyaṇa spoke: The son of Śaṅkara uttered a few words.
कार्तिकेय उवाच मातरं बन्धुवर्गांश्चाप्याज्ञां मे दत्त मातरः
Kārtikeya spoke: Mother, grant me your permission, and that of my relatives.
दैवाधीनं जगत्सर्वं जन्म कर्म शुभावहम्
All the world is governed by destiny; birth and action bring auspiciousness.
कृष्णायत्तं च तद्दैवं स च दैवात्परस्ततः
That destiny depends on Krishna, and he is beyond even fate.
दैवं वर्द्धयितुं शक्तः क्षयं कर्त्तुं स्वलीलया
He is able to increase destiny or destroy it by his own play.
तस्माद्भजत गोविन्दं मोहं त्यजत दुःखदम्
Therefore, worship Govinda and abandon delusion, which brings sorrow.
परमानन्दजननं मोहजालनिकृन्तनम्
He generates supreme bliss and cuts through the net of delusion.
कोऽहं भवाब्धौ युष्माकं का वा यूयं ममात्मिकाः
Who am I in this ocean of existence, and who are you, my own kin?
संश्लेषं वा वियोगं वा सर्वमीश्वरचिन्तया
Union or separation, all is to be contemplated as belonging to the Lord.
जलबुद्बुदवत्सर्वमनित्यं च जगत्त्रयम्
All three worlds are impermanent, like bubbles upon water.
सन्तस्तत्र न लिप्यन्ते वायुवत्कृष्णचेतसः
The wise are not tainted there, their minds fixed on Krishna, like the wind.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा ता नत्वा सार्द्धं शङ्करपार्षदैः
Having spoken thus, he bowed with Śaṅkara's attendants.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र ददर्श रथमुत्तमम्
Meanwhile, he saw there a splendid chariot.
सद्रत्नसाररचितं माणिक्येन विराजितम्
It was fashioned from the essence of precious gems and adorned with rubies.
मणीन्द्रदर्पणः श्वेतचामरैरतिदीपितम्
Its brilliance was heightened by white fans and the mirror-like surface of the lord of jewels.
शतचक्रं सुविस्तीर्णं मनोयायि मनोहरम्
With a hundred wheels, broad and beautiful, moving at will and enchanting to behold.
समारुहन्तं यानं ता हृदयेन विदूयता
As they ascended the vehicle, their hearts were torn.
दृष्ट्वा च स्वपुरः स्कन्दं स्तंभिताश्चातिशोकतः
Seeing Skanda before them, they became motionless, overwhelmed by intense sorrow.
कृत्तिका ऊचुः विहायास्मान्क्व यासि त्वं नायं धर्म्मस्तवाधुना
The Krittikas said: 'Abandoning us, where are you going? This is not your duty now.'
स्नेहेन वर्द्धितोऽस्माभिः पुत्रोऽस्माकं स्वधर्मतः
'Raised by us with affection, you are our son by the law of our nature.'
इत्युक्त्वा कृत्तिकाः सर्वाः कृत्वा वक्षसि तं सुतम्
Having spoken thus, all the Krittikas placed that son upon their breasts.
कुमारो बोधयित्वा ता अध्यात्मवचनेन वै
The boy, having awakened them with words of spiritual teaching,
पूर्णकुम्भं द्विजं वेश्यां शुक्लधान्यानि दर्पणम्
A full water-pot, a Brahmin, a courtesan, white grains, and a mirror,