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.
पावकश्चापि देवेशः परां मुदमवाप च
And Pāvaka, the lord of the gods, experienced supreme joy.
ता अब्रवीद्धरः प्रतीत्या विधिवद् वचनं मुने
Then Hari addressed them, having arrived, and spoke the prescribed words, O sage.
कुटुलायाः कुमारेति पुत्रो ऽयं भविताव्ययः
He said: 'This son, born of Kuṭilā, shall indeed be called Kumāra.'
गुह इत्येव नाम्ना च ममासौ तनयः स्मृतः
'And by the name Guha, he is remembered as my own son.'
माहासेन इति ख्यातो हुताशस्यास्तु पुत्रकः शारद्वत इति ख्यातः सुतः शरवणस्य च
'He is renowned as Māhāsena, the son of Hutāśa; and as Śāradvata, the son of Śaravaṇa.'
षडास्यत्वान् महाबाहुः षण्मुखो नाम गीयते
'Because he has six faces and mighty arms, he is sung as Ṣaṇmukha.'
सस्मार दैवतैः सार्द्ध ते ऽप्याजग्मुस्त्वरान्विताः
He remembered, along with the gods, and they too came swiftly.
दृष्ट्वा हुताशनं प्रीत्या कुटिलां कृत्तिकास्तथा
Seeing Hutāśana with joy, and Kuṭilā, as well as the Kṛttikās,
ददृशुर्बालमत्युग्रं षण्मुखं सूर्यसंनिभम् मुष्णन्तमिव चक्षुंषि तेजसा स्वेन देवताः
They beheld the exceedingly fierce child, Ṣaṇmukha, shining like the sun, whose own radiance seemed to scorch their eyes.
देवकार्यं त्वया देव कृतं देव्याग्निना तथा
'O god, the divine task has been accomplished by you, by the goddess, and by Agni as well.'