उक्ता वै शैलजा प्राह भवत्वेवमनिन्दिताः ततस्ता हर्षसम्पूर्णाः पद्मपत्रस्थितं पयः
The daughter of the mountain replied, 'Let it be so, O blameless ones.' Then, filled with joy, they gave her the milk resting on the lotus leaf.
तस्यै ददुस्तया चापि तत्पीतं क्रमशो जलम् पीते तु सलिले तस्मिंस् ततस्तस्मिन्सरोवरे
They gave it to her, and she drank that water gradually; when she had drunk the water, then, in that lake,
विपाट्य देव्याश्च ततो दक्षिणां कुक्षिमुद्गतः निश्चक्रामाद्भुतो बालः सर्वलोकविभासकः
The goddess split open her right side, and from it emerged a wondrous child, illuminating all worlds.
प्रभाकरप्रभाकारः प्रकाशकनकप्रभः गृहीतनिर्मलोदग्रशक्तिशूलः षडाननः
He shone like the sun, radiant as gold, holding a pure, sharp spear, and possessed six faces.
दीप्तो मारयितुं दैत्यान् कुत्सितान्कनकच्छविः एतस्मात्कारणाद्दैवः कुमारश्चापि सो ऽभवत्
Brilliant, to destroy the vile demons, golden in hue; for this reason, by divine will, he became Kumara.
वामं विदार्य निष्क्रान्तः सुतो देव्याः पुनः शिशुः स्कन्दाच्च वदने वह्नेः शुक्रात्सुवदनो ऽरिहा
Again, splitting the left side, the goddess's son emerged as a child; from Skanda's mouth, from Agni's seed, came the enemy-slayer with a beautiful face.
कृत्तिकामेलनादेव शाखाभिः सविशेषतः शाखाभिधाः समाख्याताः षट्सु वक्त्रेषु विस्तृताः
Because of the union with the Krittikas, he was especially called 'Shakha'; the names 'Shakha' were given, spread among his six faces.
यतस्ततो विशाखो ऽसौ ख्यातो लोकेषु षण्मुखः स्कन्दो विशाखः षड्वक्त्रः कार्तिकेयश्च विश्रुतः
Therefore, he is known in the world as Vishakha, six-faced, Skanda, Vishakha, six-mouthed, and Kartikeya, famed everywhere.
चैत्रस्य बहुले पक्षे पञ्चदश्यां महाबलौ सम्भूतावर्कसदृशौ विशाले शरकानने
On the fifteenth day of the bright half of Chaitra, two mighty ones were born, resembling the sun, in the vast forest of reeds.
चैत्रस्यैव सिते पक्षे पञ्चम्यां पाकशासनः बालकाभ्यां चकारैकं मत्वा चामरभूतये
On the fifth day of the bright half of Chaitra, Paka-shasana, considering the two boys, performed a rite for their becoming leaders.
तस्यामेव ततः षष्ठ्याम् अभिषिक्तो गुहः प्रभुः सर्वैरमरसंघातैर् ब्रह्मेन्द्रोपेन्द्रभास्करैः
On the sixth day, Guha was anointed as lord by all the hosts of immortals—Brahma, Indra, Upendra, and Bhaskara.
गन्धमाल्यैः शुभैर्धूपैस् तथा क्रीडनकैरपि छत्रैश्चामरजालैश्च भूषणैश्च विलेपनैः
With fragrant garlands, auspicious incense, toys, umbrellas, fans, nets, ornaments, and ointments, they adorned him.
अभिषिक्तो विधानेन यथावत्षण्मुखः प्रभुः सुतामस्मै ददौ शक्रो देवसेनेति विश्रुताम्
Having been duly anointed according to the prescribed rite, the mighty Six-faced Lord received from Indra the renowned daughter named Devasena.
पत्न्यर्थं देवदेवस्य ददौ विष्णुस्तदायुधम् यक्षाणां दशलक्षाणि ददावस्मै धनाधिपः
For the sake of the Lord of the gods’ wife, Vishnu then gave his weapon, and the lord of wealth granted him one hundred thousand Yakshas.
ददौ हुताशनस्तेजो ददौ वायुश्च वाहनम् ददौ क्रीडनकं त्वष्टा कुक्कुटं कामरूपिणम् एवं सुरास्तु ते सर्वे परिवारमनुत्तमम्
Agni gave his radiance, Vayu gave a vehicle, and Tvashtar gave a toy—a rooster able to assume any form; thus all the gods bestowed upon him an unsurpassed retinue.
ददुर्मुदितचेतस्काः स्कन्दायादित्यवर्चसे
With joyful hearts, they gave to Skanda, who shone with the brilliance of the sun.
जानुभ्यामवनौ स्थित्वा सुरसंघास्तमस्तुवन् स्तोत्रेणानेन वरदं षण्मुखं मुख्यशः सुराः
The hosts of gods, kneeling upon the ground, praised Six-faced, the bestower of boons, with this hymn, the foremost among the gods.
नमः कुमाराय महाप्रभाय स्कन्दाय च स्कन्दितदानवाय नवार्कविद्युद्द्युतये नमो ऽस्तुते नमो ऽस्तु ते षण्मुख कामरूप
Salutations to Kumara, the great radiant one, to Skanda, the destroyer of demons, to you whose brilliance rivals the newly risen sun; salutations to you, Six-faced, who can assume any form.
पिनद्धनानाभरणाय भर्त्रे नमो रणे दानवदारणाय नमो ऽस्तु ते ऽर्कप्रतिमप्रभाय नमो ऽस्तु गुह्याय गुहाय तुभ्यम्
Salutations to you, adorned with bound jewels, the lord in battle, the destroyer of demons; salutations to you whose radiance equals the sun, salutations to the secret one, to Guha, to you.
नमो ऽस्तु त्रैलोक्यभयापहाय नमो ऽस्तु ते बाल कृपापराय नमो विशालामललोचनाय नमो विशाखाय महाव्रताय
Salutations to you who remove the fear of the three worlds, salutations to you, child of boundless compassion; salutations to you, wide-eyed and pure, salutations to Vishakha, the great vow-holder.
नमो नमस्ते ऽस्तु मनोहराय नमो नमस्ते ऽस्तु रणोत्कटाय नमो मयूरोज्ज्वलवाहनाय नमो ऽस्तु केयूरधराय तुभ्यम्
Salutations and homage to you, captivating one; salutations and homage to you, fierce in battle; salutations to you, whose vehicle shines as a peacock; salutations to you, wearer of armlets.
नमो धृतोदग्रपताकिने नमस्ते नमः प्रभावप्रणताय ते ऽस्तु नमस्ते नमस्ते वरवीर्यशालिने कृपापरो नो भव भव्यमूर्ते
Salutations to you, bearer of the upright banner; homage to you, whose power is revered; salutations to you, possessor of supreme valor; be ever compassionate to us, O auspicious one.
क्रियापरा यज्ञपतिं च स्तुत्वा विनेमुरेवं त्वमराधिपाद्याः एवं तदा षड्वदनस्तु सेन्द्रान् उवाच तुष्टश्च गुहस्ततस्तान् निरीक्ष्य नेत्रैरमलैः सुरेशाञ् शत्रून्हनिष्यामि गतज्वराः स्थ
Having praised the lord of sacrifice, devoted to action, they bowed; thus did the gods and their leaders, and Six-faced, pleased, looked upon them with pure eyes and said: 'I will destroy your enemies; be free from anxiety.'
कं वः कामं प्रयच्छामि देवता ब्रूत निर्वृताः यद्यप्यसाध्यं हृद्यं वो हृदये चिन्तितं परम्
What boon shall I grant you, O gods? Speak, you who are content. Even if it is difficult, whatever is dear to your hearts, whatever you desire most.
इत्युक्तास्तु सुरास्तेन प्रोचुः प्रणतमौलयः सर्व एव महात्मानं गुहं तद्गतमानसाः
Thus addressed by him, the gods, with their heads bowed, all spoke, their minds fixed upon the great-souled Guha.
दैत्येन्द्रस्तारको नाम सर्वामरकुलान्तकृत् बलवान्दुर्जयो दुष्टो दुराचारो ऽतिकोपनः तमेव जहि हृद्यो ऽर्थ एषो ऽस्माकं भयापह
The demon king named Taraka, destroyer of all divine clans, powerful, unconquerable, wicked, of evil conduct, excessively wrathful—slay him; this is our heartfelt wish, the remover of our fear.
एवमुक्तस्तथेत्युक्त्वा सर्वामरपदानुगः जगाम जगतां नाथः स्तूयमानो ऽमरेश्वरैः
Thus addressed, he replied, 'So be it,' and, accompanied by all the divine hosts, the lord of the worlds departed, praised by the lords of the gods.
तारकस्य वधार्थाय जगतः कण्टकस्य वै ततश्च प्रेषयामास शक्रो लब्धसमाश्रयः
For the purpose of slaying Taraka, the thorn of the world, Indra, having obtained support, sent forth.
दूतं दानवसिंहस्य परुषाक्षरवादिनम् स तु गत्वाब्रवीद्दैत्यं निर्भयो भीमदर्शनः
He sent a messenger to the lion among demons, one who spoke harsh words; that messenger, fearless and terrifying in appearance, went and addressed the demon.
शक्रस्त्वामाह देवेशो दैत्यकेतो दिवस्पतिः तारकासुर तच्छ्रुत्वा घटशक्त्या यथेच्छया
Indra, lord of the gods, speaks to you, O banner of the demons, lord of heaven; hearing this, Tarakasura, with his formidable power, acted as he wished.