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."
विवदन्तौ ददर्साथ स्वेच्छाचारी जनार्दनः
Then Janardana, who acts as he wills, saw the two disputing.
तावूचतुः वुत्रहेतो रुद्रशुक्रोद्भवाय हि
The two said, "It is for the sake of determining the son, born of Rudra and Śukra."
स यदा वक्ष्यति देवेशस्तत्कुरुध्वमसंशयम्
When the lord of the gods declares, do that without doubt.
सम्भ्येत्योचतुस्तथ्यं कस्य पुत्रेति नारद
They gathered and said, "Nārada, whose son is he?"
दिष्ट्या दिष्ट्येति गिरिजां प्रोद्भूतपुलको ऽब्रवीत्
With his hair standing on end, he said to Girijā, "By fortune, by fortune!"
प्रष्टुं समाश्रयेद् यं स तस्य पुत्रो भविष्यति
He will be the son of whomever he approaches to ask.
सहोमया कुटिलया पावकेन च धीमता
Together with me, Kuṭilā, and the wise Pāvaka,
ददृशुः शिशुकं तं च कृत्तिकोत्सङ्गशायिनम्
They saw that child lying in the lap of the Krittikas.
योगी चतुर्मूर्तिरभूत् षण्मुखः स शिशुस्त्वपि
The yogi became four-formed, and though still a child, he possessed six faces.
कुटिलामगमच्छाखो महासेनो ऽग्निमभ्ययात्
Kuṭilā approached, and Mahāsena went towards Agni.