श्रोतव्यमेतन्नियतैः सदैव रक्षोघ्नमेतद्भगवानुवाच
This should always be listened to by the devoted; this, which destroys demons, was spoken by the Blessed Lord.
एतन्मे विस्तराद् ब्रह्मन् कथयस्वामितद्युते
O Brahman, tell me this in detail, as you are devoted to me.
यशोवृद्धिं कुमारस्य कार्तिकेयस्य नारद
O Nārada, the fame of the youth Kārtikeya increased.
तेनाक्रान्तो ऽभवद् ब्रह्मन् मन्दतेजा हुताशनः
Because of this, O Brahman, the fire-god of great radiance was overcome.
तैश्चापि प्रहितस्तूर्णं ब्रह्मलोकं जगाम ह
He was quickly sent by them and went to the world of Brahma.
तां दृष्ट्वा प्राह कुटिले तेज एतत्सुदुर्द्धरम्
Seeing her, he said: 'O crooked one, this radiance is very difficult to bear.'
तस्मात् प्रतीच्छ पुत्रो ऽयं तव धन्यो भविष्यति
Therefore, accept this child; he will become blessed for you.
प्रक्षिपस्वाम्भसि मम प्राह वह्निं महापगा
He said to the great river: 'Cast the fire into the water for me.'
मांसमस्थीनि रुधिरं मेदोन्त्ररेतसी त्वचः
Flesh, bones, blood, marrow, intestines, semen, and skin—
हिरण्यरेता लोकेषु तेन गीतश्च पावकः
Because of his golden seed, he is sung in the worlds as Pāvaka.
धारयन्ती तदा गर्भं ब्रह्मणः स्थानमागता
At that time, she bore the embryo, having reached the abode of Brahma.
दृष्ट्वा पप्रच्छ गेनायं तव गर्भः समाहितः
Seeing her, he asked: 'Is your embryo well established?'
तदशक्तेन तेनाद्य निक्षिप्तं मयि सत्तम
Then, unable to bear it, O noble one, it was deposited in me today.
गर्भस्य वर्त्तते कालो न पपात च कर्हिचित्
The time of the embryo continues; it never fell at any time.
तत्रास्ति योजनशतं रौद्रं शरवणं महत्
There is a great, fierce place called Śaravaṇa, a hundred yojanas wide.
दशवर्षसहस्रान्ते ततो बालो भविष्यति
After ten thousand years, then the boy will be born.
आगत्य गर्भं तत्याज सुखेनैवाद्रिनन्दिनी
Having come, the daughter of the mountain easily abandoned the embryo.
आपोमयी मन्त्रवशात् संजाता-कुटिला सती
By the power of mantra, the crooked one became composed of water.
तन्निवासरताश्चान्ये पादपा मृगपक्षिणः
Other residents there were trees, beasts, and birds.
बालार्कदीप्तिः संजातो बालः कमललोचनः
The boy, with the radiance of the rising sun and lotus-like eyes, was born.
मुखे ऽङ्गुष्ठं समाक्षिप्य रुरोद घनराडिव
He drew his thumb into his mouth and wept like a heavy raincloud.
ददृशुः स्वेच्छया यान्त्यो बालं शरवणे स्थितम्
They saw the child, who was standing in the bed of reeds, as they approached of their own accord.
अहं पूर्वमहं पूर्वं तस्मै स्तन्ये ऽभिचुक्रुशुः
"I am first! I am first!"—to him they cried out for milk.
अबीभरंश्च ताः सर्वाः शिशुं स्नेहाच्च कृत्तिकाः
All the Krittikas, out of affection, each nursed the child.
कार्त्तिकेयेति विख्यातो जातः स बलिनां वरः
He, the foremost among the strong, was born and became renowned as Karttikeya.
कियत्प्रमाणः पुत्रस्ते वर्त्तते साम्प्रतं गुहः
"Of what measure is your son now, Guha?"
प्रोवाच पुत्रं देवेश न वेद्मि कतमो गुहः
The lord of the gods said to his son, "I do not know which one is Guha."
त्रैयम्बलं त्रिलोकेश जातः शरवणे शिशुः
The child, born in the bed of reeds, is the strength of the three, O lord of the three worlds.
वेगिनं मेषमारुह्य कुटिला तं ददर्श ह
Kuṭilā, mounting a swift ram, saw him.
सो ऽब्रवीत् पुत्रदुष्ट्यर्थं जातं शरवणे शिशुम्
He said, "The child born in the bed of reeds is for the purpose of destroying the enemy of the son."