As the child lay in the bed of reeds, he drew his tiny thumb into his mouth and wept, his tears falling like a heavy raincloud. Drawn by his cries, the Krittikas approached, and there before them stood the radiant child, upright amidst the reeds. Seeing him, their hearts overflowed with affection, and each one vied to nurse him, calling out, “I am first! I am first!” Out of their boundless love, all the Krittikas took turns nourishing the child. This remarkable infant, foremost among the strong, came to be known and celebrated as Karttikeya. Observing his wondrous growth, the gods marveled and asked, “Of what measure is your son now, Guha?” But the lord of the gods replied, “I do not know which one is Guha.” Yet it was clear to all that this child, born in the bed of reeds, embodied the combined strength of the three—O lord of the three worlds. At that moment, Kuṭilā, riding swiftly upon a ram, beheld the child. She declared, “This child, born in the bed of reeds, is destined to destroy the enemy of the son.” As this was spoken, Janardana, the Lord who acts as he wills, observed the two in their dispute. They said, “It is for the sake of determining the son, born of Rudra and Śukra.” The lord of the gods advised, “Whatever is declared, do so without doubt.” Thus, all gathered and asked Nārada, “Whose son is he?” With hair standing on end in wonder, Nārada turned to Girijā and exclaimed, “By fortune, by fortune!” He explained that the child would be the son of whomever he approached to ask. Together with Kuṭilā and the wise Pāvaka, Nārada witnessed the child lying peacefully in the lap of the Krittikas. Then, in a marvel of divine power, the yogi child assumed four forms and, though still but an infant, possessed six radiant faces. Kuṭilā approached the child, while Mahāsena moved toward Agni. Pāvaka, the lord of the gods, was filled with supreme joy at this sight. Then Hari himself arrived and addressed them, speaking the prescribed words, “This son, born of Kuṭilā, shall indeed be called Kumāra. And by the name Guha, he is remembered as my own son. He is renowned as Māhāsena, son of Hutāśa; and as Śāradvata, son of Śaravaṇa. Because he has six faces and mighty arms, he is sung as Ṣaṇmukha.” The gods, remembering the divine purpose, hastened together. They beheld Hutāśana with joy, Kuṭilā, and the Krittikas, and gazed in awe at the exceedingly fierce child Ṣaṇmukha, who shone like the sun, his radiance so bright it seemed to scorch their eyes. “O god, the divine task has been accomplished by you, by the goddess, and by Agni as well,” they proclaimed. “Let us anoint Ṣaṇmukha at Kurukṣetra, on the banks of the Sarasvatī. Let him slay the demon Mahiṣa and the dreadful Tāraka.” With Kumāra, they journeyed to the sacred Kurukṣetra, a place of great merit. There, with the hosts of sages, they made preparations for his consecration. Using auspicious herbs and fragrant substances, beginning with those that exude gum, they anointed him in a grand ceremony. The lords of the Gandharvas sang, and the Apsarases danced in joy. Out of deep affection, the motherly Krittika goddess lifted the child into her lap again and again, kissing his head with love. She shone with the radiance of Aditi, the mother of the gods, as she once did for Indra. Pāvaka, the Krittikas, and illustrious Kuṭilā, in their joy, bestowed upon the child four Pramathas, spirits of valor equal to Indra himself, to be his companions and guardians. Thus was the divine child, Ṣaṇmukha, honored and prepared for his great destiny.