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.'
कुरुक्षेत्रे सरस्वत्यामभिष्ञ्चाम षण्मुखम्
'Let us anoint Ṣaṇmukha at Kurukṣetra, on the Sarasvatī.'
महिषं घातयत्वेष तारकं च सुदारुणम्
'Let him slay Mahiṣa and the exceedingly dreadful Tāraka.'
कुमारसहिता जग्मुः कुरुक्षेत्रं महाफलम्
Together with Kumāra, they went to Kurukṣetra, the place of great merit.
यत्नमस्याभिषेकार्तं चक्रुर्मुनिगणैः सह
They made efforts for his consecration, along with the hosts of sages.
वरौषधीभिश्च सहस्रमूर्त्तिभिस्तदाभ्यषिञ्चन् गुमच्युताद्याः
With auspicious herbs and by those of a thousand forms, they anointed him, beginning with those that exude gum.
जगुर्गन्धर्वपतयो ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः
The lords of the Gandharvas sang, and the hosts of Apsarases danced.
स्नेहादुत्सङ्गगं स्कन्दं मूर्ध्न्यजिघ्रन्मुर्हुर्मुहुः
Out of affection, she repeatedly lifted the child onto her lap and kissed his head again and again.
भात्यद्रिजा यथेन्द्रस्य देवमातादितिः पुरा
She shone like Aditi, the mother of the gods, once did for Indra.
पावकः कृत्तिकाश्चैव कुटिला च यशस्विनी
Pāvaka, the Kṛttikās, and Kuṭilā the illustrious one,
प्रमथांश्चतुरः प्रदाच्छक्रतुल्यपराक्रमान्
gave four Pramathas, equal in valor to Indra,