बाहुना हेमकेयूररुचिरेण षडाननः ततो जवान्महासेनस् तारकं दानवाधिपम्
Then, with his arm shining with golden armlets, the six-faced Mahāsena swiftly approached Tāraka, lord of the Dānavas.
तिष्ठ तिष्ठ सुदुर्बुद्धे जीवलोकं विलोकय हतो ऽस्यद्य मया शक्त्या स्मर शस्त्रं सुशिक्षितम्
"Stand, stand, O most foolish one! Behold the world of the living. Today you shall be slain by me with my spear. Recall your well-learned weapons!"
इत्युक्त्वा च ततः शक्तिं मुमोच दितिजं प्रति सा कुमारभुजोत्सृष्टा तत्केयूररवानुगा बिभेद दैत्यहृदयं वज्रशैलेन्द्रकर्कशम्
Having spoken thus, he hurled the spear at the demon. Released by Kumāra's arm, accompanied by the sound of his armlets, it pierced the demon's heart, hard as diamond or a mountain peak.
गतासुः स पपातोर्व्यां प्रलये भूधरो यथा विकीर्णमुकुटोष्णीषो विस्रस्ताखिलभूषणः
His life departed, he fell to the earth like a mountain at the end of the world, his crown and turban scattered, all his ornaments cast off.
तस्मिन्विनिहते दैत्ये त्रिदशानां महोत्सवे नाभूत् कश्चित् तदा दुःखी नरकेष्वपि पापकृत्
With that demon slain, there was a great festival among the gods; at that time, not even the sinful in hell felt sorrow.
स्तुवन्तः षण्मुखं देवाः क्रीडन्तश्चाङ्गनायुताः जग्मुः स्वानेव भवनान् भूरिधामान उत्सुकाः
The gods, praising Ṣaṇmukha and sporting with thousands of women, eagerly returned to their own splendid abodes.
ददुश्चापि वरं सर्वे देवाः स्कन्दमुखं प्रति तुष्टाः सम्प्राप्तसर्वेच्छाः सह सिद्धैस्तपोधनैः
All the gods, their wishes fulfilled and pleased, together with the Siddhas and ascetics, granted a boon to Skanda.
यः पठेत्स्कन्दसम्बद्धां कथां मर्त्यो महामतिः शृणुयाच्छ्रावयेद्वापि स भवेत्कीर्तिमान्नरः
Whoever, being wise, recites, hears, or causes to be heard the story connected with Skanda, that man becomes renowned.
बह्वायुः सुभगः श्रीमान् कान्तिमाञ्छुभदर्शनः भूतेभ्यो निर्भयश्चापि सर्वदुःखविवर्जितः
He lives long, is fortunate, prosperous, radiant, of auspicious appearance, fearless of spirits, and free from all suffering.
संध्यामुपास्य यः पूर्वां स्कन्दस्य चरितं पठेत् स मुक्तः किल्बिषैः सर्वैर् महाधनपतिर्भवेत्
Whoever, after worshipping the early twilight, recites the deeds of Skanda, is freed from all sins and becomes a lord of great wealth.
बालानां व्याधिजुष्टानां राजद्वारं च सेवताम् इदं तत्परमं दिव्यं सर्वदा सर्वकामदम् तनुक्षये च सायुज्यं षण्मुखस्य व्रजेन्नरः
For children afflicted by disease, and for those who serve at the royal gate, this supreme, divine account always grants all desires; and at the end of life, one attains union with Ṣaṇmukha.
इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामो हिरण्यकशिपोर्वधम् नरसिंहस्य माहात्म्यं तथा पापविनाशनम्
Now we wish to hear of the slaying of Hiraṇyakaśipu, the greatness of Narasiṃha, and the destruction of sin.
पुरा कृतयुगे विप्रा हिरण्यकशिपुः प्रभुः दैत्यानामादिपुरुषश् चकार स महत्तपः
Long ago, in the Kṛta age, O brāhmaṇas, Hiraṇyakaśipu, lord of the daityas and their primeval being, performed great austerity.
दश वर्षसहस्राणि दश वर्षशतानि च जलवासी समभवत् स्नानमौनधृतव्रतः
For ten thousand years and ten hundred years, he dwelt in water, observing vows of bathing, silence, and restraint.
ततः शमदमाभ्यां च ब्रह्मचर्येण चैव हि ब्रह्मा प्रीतो ऽभवत्तस्य तपसा नियमेन च
Then, through his tranquility and self-control, and indeed by his celibacy, Brahmā was pleased with his austerity and discipline.
ततः स्वयंभूर्भगवान् स्वयमागम्य तत्र ह विमानेनार्कवर्णेन हंसयुक्तेन भास्वता
Thereupon, the self-born, blessed Lord himself came there, in a radiant chariot the color of the sun, yoked with swans.
आदित्यैर्वसुभिः साध्यैर् मरुद्भिर्दैवतैस्तथा रुद्रैर्विश्वसहायैश्च यक्षराक्षसपन्नगैः
With him came the Ādityas, Vasus, Sādhyas, Maruts, and other deities, as well as the Rudras, Viśvas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and serpents.
दिग्भिश् चैव विदिग्भिश् च नदीभिः सागरैस्तथा नक्षत्रैश्च मुहूर्तैश्च खेचरैश्च महाग्रहैः
Also with the directions and intermediate directions, rivers and oceans, stars and moments, beings of the sky, and the great planets.
देवैर्ब्रह्मर्षिभिः सार्धं सिद्धैः सप्तर्षिभिस्तथा राजर्षिभिः पुण्यकृद्भिर् गन्धर्वाप्सरसां गणैः
Together with the gods, Brahmarṣis, Siddhas, the seven seers, royal sages who performed meritorious deeds, and hosts of Gandharvas and Apsarases.
चराचरगुरुः श्रीमान् वृतः सर्वैर्दिवौकसैः ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मविदां श्रेष्ठो दैत्यं वचनमब्रवीत्
The illustrious preceptor of all beings, surrounded by all the denizens of heaven, Brahmā, foremost knower of Brahman, spoke to the demon.
प्रीतो ऽस्मि तव भक्तस्य तपसानेन सुव्रत वरं वरय भद्रं ते यथेष्टं काममाप्नुहि
I am pleased with your devotion and this austerity, O virtuous one. Choose a boon, good fortune to you; obtain whatever desire you wish.
न देवासुरगन्धर्वा न यक्षोरगराक्षसाः न मानुषाः पिशाचा वा हन्युर्मां देवसत्तम
Let neither gods, demons, nor Gandharvas, nor Yakṣas, serpents, or Rākṣasas, nor humans or Piśācas, O best of gods, slay me.
ऋषयो वा न मां शापैः शपेयुः प्रपितामह यदि मे भगवान्प्रीतो वर एष वृतो मया
Nor may the seers curse me with their imprecations, O great grandsire, if you, blessed Lord, are pleased; this is the boon I have chosen.
न चास्त्रेण न शस्त्रेण गिरिणा पादपेन च न शुष्केण न चार्द्रेण न दिवा न निशाथ वा
Not by weapon nor missile, not by mountain or tree, not by anything dry or wet, not by day nor by night.
भवेयमहमेवार्कः सोमो वायुर्हुताशनः सलिलं चान्तरिक्षं च नक्षत्राणि दिशो दश
May I become the sun, the moon, the wind, the fire, water, the atmosphere, the stars, and the ten directions.
अहं क्रोधश्च कामश्च वरुणो वासवो यमः धनदश्च धनाध्यक्षो यक्षः किंपुरुषाधिपः
May I be wrath and desire, Varuṇa, Indra, Yama, the lord of wealth, the treasurer, a Yakṣa, and the lord of Kiṃpuruṣas.
एते दिव्या वरास्तात मया दत्तास्तवाद्भुताः सर्वान्कामान्सदा वत्स प्राप्स्यसि त्वं न संशयः
These divine and wondrous boons, dear one, have been granted to you by me. You shall always obtain all desires, my child, without doubt.
एवमुक्त्वा स भगवाञ् जगामाकाश एव हि वैराजं ब्रह्मसदनं ब्रह्मर्षिगणसेवितम्
Having spoken thus, the blessed Lord went into the sky, to the celestial abode of Brahmā, attended by hosts of Brahmarṣis.
ततो देवाश्च नागाश्च गन्धर्वा ऋषिभिः सह वरप्रदानं श्रुत्वैव पितामहमुपस्थिताः
Then the gods, serpents, and Gandharvas, along with the seers, having heard of the granting of the boon, approached the Grandsire.
वरप्रदानाद्भगवन् वधिष्यति स नो ऽसुरः तत्प्रसीदाशु भगवन् वधो ऽप्यस्य विचिन्त्यताम्
Because of the granting of the boon, O blessed one, that demon will slay us. Therefore, be gracious, O Lord, and quickly consider his destruction.