शृणु तारक शास्त्रार्थ इह नैव निरूप्यते। शस्त्रैरर्था न दृश्यंते समरे निर्भरं भये
'Listen, Tāraka: the meaning of scripture is not determined here; in battle, meanings are not seen through weapons, especially in great fear.'
शिशुत्वं मावमंस्था मे शिशुः कष्टो भुजंगमः। दुष्प्रेक्षो भास्करो बालस्तथाहं दुर्जयः शिशुः
'Do not underestimate my childhood; a child-serpent is dangerous, the sun is hard to look at though young, and so am I—a child, but unconquerable.'
अल्पाक्षरो न मंत्रः किं सस्फुरो दैत्य दृश्यते। कुमारे प्रोक्तवत्येवं दैत्यश्चिक्षेप मुद्गरं
'A mantra may have few syllables, yet, demon, it is seen to be powerful.' When the boy spoke thus, the demon hurled a mace.
कुमारस्तं निरासोग्रं चक्रेणामोघवर्चसा। ततश्चिक्षेप दैत्येंद्रो भिंदिपालमयोमयं
The boy, with his unfailing brilliance, repelled that fierce weapon with his discus; then the lord of the demons hurled an iron club.
करेण तं च जग्राह कार्तिकेयोमरारिहा। गदां मुमोच दैत्याय समुत्थाय खरस्वनाम्
Kārtikeya, destroyer of the enemies of the gods, caught it with his hand and, rising up, hurled a roaring mace at the demon.
तया हतस्ततो दैत्यश्चकम्पेचलराडिव। मेने च दुर्जयं दैत्यस्तदाबालं सुदुःसहं
Struck by that, the demon shook like the lord of mountains; the demon then considered the boy to be truly invincible and exceedingly formidable.
चिंतयामास बुद्ध्या वै प्राप्तः कालो न संशयः। कंपितं च समालोक्य कालनेमि पुरोगमाः
He thought with his mind, 'Surely, the destined time has come.' Seeing the trembling, those led by Kālanemi—
सर्वे देत्यैश्वरा जघ्नुः कुमारं रणदारुणं। स तैः प्रहारैरस्पृष्टस्तथा क्लैशैर्महाद्युतिः1.44.
All the demon lords attacked the boy in the dreadful battle; but by their blows and torments, the radiant one was untouched.
स बालो बलिभिर्वेगैरयुध्यद्दानवै रणे। रणशौण्डाश्च दैत्येंद्रा पुःनर्जघ्नुः शिलीमुखैः
That boy fought in battle with the powerful demons with great force; and again, the demon lords, skilled in war, struck him with arrows.
कुमारं समरे दैत्या बलिनो देवकंटकाः। कुमारस्य व्यथा नाभूद्दैत्यास्त्रनिहतस्य तु
The mighty demons, thorns to the gods, attacked the boy in battle; but the boy felt no pain, though struck by the demons' weapons.
प्राणांतकरणं जातं देवानां दानवा हवं। देवान्निपीडितान्दृष्ट्वा कुमारः कोपमाविशत्
A deadly calamity befell the gods, caused by the demons' offering; seeing the gods oppressed, Kumāra was seized by anger.
ततोस्त्रैर्दारयामास दानावानामनीकिनीम्। तैरस्त्रैर्निष्प्रतीकारैस्ताडितास्सुरकंटकाः
Then, with his weapons, he shattered the army of the demons; struck by those irresistible weapons, the tormentors of the gods were beaten.
कालनेमिमुखाः सर्वे रणे ह्यासन्पराङ्मुखाः। विद्रुतेषु च दैत्येषु प्रहतेषु समंततः
All, led by Kālanemi, turned their backs in battle; as the demons fled and were struck down everywhere.
किन्नरोद्गारगीतैश्च हास्यसन्यस्तचेतनः। जघ्ने कुमारं गदया निष्टप्तकनकत्विषा
With songs sung by Kinnaras and laughter that scattered their senses, Kumāra struck with his mace, shining like refined gold.
शरैर्मयूरं चित्रैश्च चकार विमुखं रणे। दृष्ट्वा पराड्मुखो देवो मुक्तरक्तं स्ववाहनम्
With his variegated arrows, he made the peacock turn away in battle; seeing his vehicle bleeding and turned away, the god...
जग्राह शक्तिं विमलां रणे कनकभूषणाम्। बाहुना हेमकेयूर रुचिरेण षडाननः
In battle, Ṣaḍānana took up a pure spear adorned with golden ornaments, with his arm shining with a golden bracelet.
ततोब्रवीन्महासेनस्तारकं दानवाधिपम्। तिष्ठतिष्ठ सुदुर्बुद्धे यमलोकं विलोकय
Then Mahāsena spoke to Tāraka, lord of the demons: 'Stand, stand, you of wicked mind! Behold the realm of Yama.'
हतो ह्यसि मया शक्त्या स्मर स्वं दैत्यचेष्टितम्। इत्युक्त्वा तु ततः शक्तिं मुमोच दितिजं प्रति
'You are slain by me with this spear; remember your deeds as a demon.' Having spoken thus, he hurled the spear at the offspring of Diti.
सा कुमारभुजोत्सृष्टा तत्केयूररवानुगा। बिभेद दैत्यहृदयं वज्रशैलेंद्रकर्कशम्
That spear, released from Kumāra's arm and accompanied by the sound of his bracelet, pierced the demon's heart, hard as a thunderbolt or mountain.
गतासुः स पपातोर्व्यां प्रलये भूधरो यथा। विकीर्णमकुटोष्णीषो विस्रस्ताखिलभूषणः
His life departed, he fell to the earth like a mountain at dissolution, his crown and turban scattered, all his ornaments cast off.
तस्मिन्विनिहते दैत्ये दानवानां धुरंधरे। नाभूत्कश्चित्तदा दुःखी नरकेष्वपि पापकृत्
When that demon, the burden-bearer of the demons, was slain, none was sorrowful then, not even the wicked in hell.
स्तुवंतः षण्मुखं देवाः प्राक्रीडन्नागतस्मिताः। जग्मुः स्वानेव भुवनान्निरस्यासंस्तथोत्सुकाः
The gods, praising Ṣaṇmukha, played joyfully with smiles returned; eager, they departed to their own worlds.
ददुश्चापि वरं सर्वे देवाश्च षण्मुखं प्रति। तुष्टाः संप्राप्तसर्वार्थास्सहसिद्धैस्तपोधनैः
All the gods, pleased and having attained all their desires, granted a boon to Ṣaṇmukha, accompanied by ascetics endowed with miraculous powers.
देवा ऊचुः। यः पठेत्स्कंदसंबंधां कथामेतां महामतिः। शृणुयाच्छ्रावयेद्वापि स भवेत्कीर्तिमान्नरः
The gods said: 'Whoever, of great intellect, recites, hears, or causes to be heard this tale of Skanda, he shall become renowned among men.'
बह्वायुः सुभगः श्रीमान्कीर्तिमान्शुभदर्शनः। भूतेभ्यो निर्भयश्चापि सर्वदुःखविवर्जितः
He will be long-lived, fortunate, prosperous, renowned, and of auspicious appearance; fearless among beings and free from all suffering.
संध्यामुपास्य यः पूर्वां स्कंदस्य चरितं पठेत्। स युक्तः किन्नरैः सर्वैर्महाधनपतिर्भवेत्
Whoever, after worshipping the morning twilight, recites the deeds of Skanda, shall, accompanied by all Kinnaras, become lord of great wealth.
भीष्म उवाच-। इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामि हिरण्यकशिपोर्वधम्। नरसिंहस्य माहात्म्यं तथा पापविनाशनम्
Bhīṣma said: 'Now I wish to hear of the slaying of Hiraṇyakaśipu, the greatness of Narasiṃha, and the destruction of sin.'
पुलस्त्य उवाच-। पुरा कृतयुगे राजन्हिरण्यकशिपुः प्रभुः। दैत्यानामादिपुरुषश्चकार सुमहत्तपः
Pulastya said: 'Once, in the Krita age, O king, Hiraṇyakaśipu, lord of the demons and their primeval ancestor, performed a great austerity.'
दशवर्षसहस्राणि दशवर्षशतानि च। जलवासी समभवत्स्नानमौनधृतव्रतः
For ten thousand years and also for a thousand years, he dwelled in water, observing vows of bathing and silence.
वृतः शमदमाभ्यां च ब्रह्मचर्येण चैव हि। ब्रह्मा प्रीतोऽभवत्तस्य तपसा नियमेन च
He was endowed with tranquility and self-control, and indeed with celibacy; Brahmā was pleased with his austerity and discipline.