स्कंदोथ वदनाद्वह्नेः शुभ्रात्षड्वदनोरिहा। कृत्तिकासलिलादेव शाखाभिः सविशेषतः
Skanda, from the mouth of Agni, pure, with six faces here, especially from the waters of the Krittikas, with branches.
शाखाः शिवाः समाख्याताः षट्सुवक्त्रेषु विस्तृताः। यतस्ततो विशाखोसौ ख्यातो लोकेषु षण्मुखः
The branches are called auspicious, spread across the six faces; therefore, he is known in the worlds as Vishakha and Shanmukha.
स्कंदो विशाखः षड्वक्त्रः कार्तिकेयश्च विश्रुतः। पक्षे चैत्रस्य बहुले पंचदश्यां महाबलौ
Skanda, Vishakha, the six-faced one, and Kartikeya—he is renowned; on the fifteenth day of the dark half of Chaitra, the mighty ones.
संभूतावर्कसदृशौ विशाले शरकानने। सिते पक्षे तु पंचम्यां तथैतौ पावकानलौ
They were born, resembling the sun, in the vast forest of reeds; and on the fifth day of the bright half, these two, fire-born, shone.
बालकाभ्यां चकारैकं संध्यायामेव भूतये। तस्यामेव ततः षष्ठ्यामभिषिक्तो गुहः प्रभुः
With the two boys, he made one at twilight for the sake of being; then, on the sixth day, Guha the lord was anointed.
सर्वैरमरसंघातैर्ब्रह्मोपेंद्रेंद्र भास्करैः। गंधमाल्यैः शुभैर्धूपैस्तथा क्रीडनकैरपि
By all the hosts of immortals—Brahma, Upendra, Indra, and Bhaskara—with fragrant garlands, auspicious incense, and also with playthings.
छत्रैश्चामरजालैश्च भूषणैश्च विलेपनैः। अभिषिक्तो विधानेन यथावत्षण्मुखः प्रभुः
He was anointed according to the proper rite with parasols, chowries, garlands, ornaments, and unguents, just as the mighty six-faced one.
सुतामस्मै ददौ शक्रो देवसेनेति विश्रुताम्। पत्न्यर्थं देवदेवेशो ददौ विष्णुरथायुधम्1.44.
Indra gave him his daughter, renowned as Devasena, as a wife; and the Lord of the gods, Vishnu, gave him a divine weapon.
यक्षाणां दशलक्षाणि ददावस्य धनाधिपः। ददौ हुताशनस्तेजो ददौ वायुश्च वाहनम्
The Lord of Wealth gave him one hundred thousand Yakshas; Agni gave him his brilliance, and Vayu gave him a vehicle.
ददौ क्रीडनकं त्वष्टा कुक्कुटं कामरूपिणम्। एवं सुरास्तु ते सर्वे परिवारमनन्तकम्
Tvashtar gave him a toy, a rooster that could assume any form at will; thus, all the gods gave him an endless retinue.
ददुर्मुदितचेतस्काः स्कंदायादित्यवर्चसे। जानुभ्यामवनौ स्थित्वा सुरसंघास्तमस्तुवन्
With joyful hearts, the gods, radiant as the sun, gave these to Skanda; then, kneeling on the ground, the hosts of gods praised him.
स्तोत्रेणानेन वरदं षण्मुखं मुख्यशः सुराः। देवा ऊचुः-। नमः कुमाराय महाप्रभाय स्कंदाय चास्कंदितदानवाय
With this hymn, the foremost gods praised the boon-giving six-faced one: The gods said: 'Salutations to Kumara, of great splendor, to Skanda, the destroyer of undiminished demons.'
नवार्कबिंबप्रतिमप्रभाव नमोस्तु गुह्याय गुहाय तुभ्यम्। नमोस्तु ते लोकभयापहाय नमोस्तु ते लोककृपापराय
Salutations to you, whose radiance is like the newly-risen sun; salutations to the secret one, to Guha; salutations to you who remove the world's fears, salutations to you who are supremely compassionate to the world.
नमो विशालामललोचनाय नमो विशाखाय महाव्रताय। नमो नमस्तेस्तु रणोत्कटाय नमो मयूरोज्ज्वलवाहनाय
Salutations to you with wide, spotless eyes; salutations to Vishakha, the great vow-keeper; salutations again and again to the fierce one in battle, salutations to you whose shining vehicle is the peacock.
नमोस्तु केयूरधराय तुभ्यं नमो धृतोदग्रपताकिने ते। नमः प्रभावप्रणताय तेस्तु नमोऽस्तु घंटाधरधैर्यशालिने
Salutations to you who wear armlets; salutations to you who hold the raised banner; salutations to you, revered by those who bow to your power; salutations to you, steadfast in courage, who wears the bell.
कुमार उवाच-। कं वः कामं प्रयच्छामि भवंतो ब्रूतनिर्वृताः। यद्यप्य साध्यं कृत्यं नो हृदये चिंतितं चिरम्
Kumara said: 'What boon shall I grant you? Speak freely, O satisfied ones. Even if the task is difficult, it has long been considered in my heart.'
इत्युक्तास्तु सुरास्तेन प्रोचुः प्रणतमौलयः। सर्व एव महात्मानं गुहं मुदितमानसाः
Thus addressed by him, the gods, their heads bowed in reverence, all with joyful minds, spoke to the great-souled Guha.
दैत्येंद्रस्तारको नाम सर्वामरकुलांतकृत्। बलवान्दुर्जयस्तीक्ष्णो दुराचारोतिकोपनः
There is a demon king named Taraka, destroyer of all the clans of the immortals; he is strong, unconquerable, fierce, of evil conduct, and exceedingly wrathful.
तमेव जहि दुर्धर्षं दैत्यं सर्वविनाशनम्। उपस्थितः कृत्यशेषो ह्यस्माकं च भयावहः
Slay that formidable demon, the destroyer of all, who has become the cause of our remaining task and a source of fear for us.
हिरण्यकशिपुश्चोग्रो ह्यवध्यो देवतागणैः। यज्ञघ्नः पापकर्मा वै येन ब्रह्मापि तापितः
And there is the fierce Hiranyakashipu, invulnerable to the hosts of gods, destroyer of sacrifices, performer of evil deeds, who even tormented Brahma.
एतौ हरस्व भद्रं ते तावकं च महाबलम्। एवमुक्तस्तथेत्युक्त्वा सर्वामरपदानुगः
Take away these two, and may you have good fortune and great strength. Thus addressed, he replied, 'So be it,' and followed by all the immortals—
जगाम जगतांनाथस्तूयमानोमरेश्वरैः। तारकस्य वधार्थाय जगतां कंटकस्य च
The Lord of the worlds went forth, praised by the lords of the celestials, to slay Taraka and the thorn of the worlds.
ततश्च प्रेषयामास शक्रो गूढसमाश्रयः। दूतं दानवसिंहस्य परुषाक्षरवादिनम्
Then Indra, remaining concealed, sent a messenger to the lion among demons, one who spoke harsh words.
स तु गत्वाब्रवीद्दैत्यमभयो भीमदर्शनम्। दूत उवाच। शक्रस्त्वामाह देवेशो दैत्यकेतुं दिवस्पतिः
That messenger, having gone, spoke to the terrifying demon who inspired fear: The messenger said: 'Indra, Lord of the gods, the banner of the demons, the lord of heaven, speaks to you.'
तारकासुर तच्छक्त्या घटयस्व यथेच्छया। यज्जगज्ज्वलनोद्दीप्तं किल्बिषं च त्वया कृतम्
Tārakāsura, by that power of yours, act as you wish; all the sin you have committed, blazing and inflamed in the world, is by you.
तस्याहं सादकस्तेद्य राजास्मि भुवनत्रये। श्रुत्वैतदद्भुतं वाक्यं कोपसंरक्तलोचनः
Because of that, I have accomplished my aim and today I am king of the three worlds; hearing these wondrous words, his eyes reddened with anger.
उवाच दूतं दुष्टात्मा नष्टप्रायविभूतिकः। तारक उवाच-। दृष्टं ते पौरुषं शक्र शतशोथ महारणे
The wicked-hearted one, whose glory was nearly lost, spoke to the messenger: Tāraka said— 'I have seen your prowess, O Indra, hundreds of times in great battles.'
निस्त्रपत्वान्न ते शांतिर्विद्यते शक्र दुर्मते। एवमुक्ते गते दूते चिंतयामास दानवः
'Because you are unstable, O Indra of evil mind, you will never have peace.' When he had spoken thus and the messenger had departed, the demon began to reflect.
नालब्धसंश्रयः शक्रो वक्तुमेवमिहार्हति। जातः स्कंदोधुना शक्राज्ज्ञायते समुपाश्रयात्
'Indra, lacking any refuge, would not dare to speak so here; now, because of Skanda, Indra has gained support, as is clear from his confidence.'
निमित्तौघांस्तदा दुष्टान्सोपश्यन्नाशवेदिनः। पांसुवर्षमसृक्पातं गगनादवनीतले
Then he saw many evil omens, portending destruction: showers of dust and blood falling from the sky to the earth.