Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 44
Sourceशर्व उवाच। शरीरे मम तन्वंगि सिते भास्यसितद्युतिः। भुजंगी वा सिता शुभ्रे संश्लिष्टा चंदनेतरौ१। चंद्रातपेन संपृक्ता रुधिराम्बरसंवृता। रजनी वा सिते पक्षे दृष्टिदोषं ददासि मे२। इत्युक्ता गिरिजा तेन मुक्तकंठा पिनाकिनम्। उवाच कोपरक्ताक्षी भ्रुकुटी विकृतानना३। देव्युवाच-। स्वकृतेन जनः सर्वो जाड्येन परिभूयते। अवश्यमर्थी प्राप्नोति खंडनं शशिमंडन४। तपोभिर्दीर्घचरितैर्या त्वां प्रार्थितवत्यहं। तस्या मेनि यतस्त्वेष ह्यवमानः पदे पदे५। नैवास्मि कुटिला शर्व विषमा न च धूर्जटे। सविषस्त्वं जगत्ख्यातो व्यक्तदोषाकराश्रयः६। त्वं हि मुष्णासि दशनान्नेत्रहंता भगस्य च। आदित्यस्त्वां विजानाति भगवान्द्वादशात्मकः७। मूर्ध्नि शूलं जनयसि स्वैर्दोषैर्मामधिक्षिपन्। यस्त्वं मामात्थकृष्णेति महाकालोसि विश्रुतः८। यास्याम्यहं परित्यक्तुमात्मानं तपसा गिरिम्। जीवंत्या न मया कृत्यं धूर्तेन परिभूतया९। कापालिकेन क्षुद्रेण श्मशाने नित्यवासिना। भूत्या विलिप्त स्वांगेन मातृमध्यस्थ चारिणा१०। निशम्य तस्या वचनं कोपतीक्ष्णाक्षरं हरः। उवाचानिष्टसंभ्रांतः प्रचलेनेंदुमौलिना११। शर्व उवाच। अगात्मजासि गिरिजे नाहं निंदापरस्तव। चाटूक्तिबुध्या तु मया कृत उन्मादसंश्रयः१२। विकल्पः स्वस्थचित्ते तु गिरिजे न मम क्रमात्। यद्येवं कुपिता भीरु तत्तवाहं न वै पुनः१३। नर्मवादी भविष्यामि जहि कोपं शुचिस्मिते। शिरसा प्रणतेनैष रचितस्ते मयांजलि१४। नि हीनो ह्यपमानेन निंदिते नैति विक्रियाम्। असतां तु सतां न स्यान्मर्मस्पृष्टो नरः किल१५। अनेकैश्चाटुभिर्देवी देवेन प्रतिबोधिता। कोपं तीव्रं न तत्याज सती मर्मणि घट्टिता१६। अवष्टब्धमथाच्छिद्य वासः शंकरपाणिना। विपर्यस्तालकावेगाद्गन्तुमैच्छच्च शैलजा१७। तस्या व्रजंत्याः कोपेन पुनराह पुरांतकः। सत्यं सर्वैरवयवैस्तनोषि सदृशां पितुः१८। हिमाचलस्य शृंगस्थमेव जालाकुलं मनः। तथा दुरवगाह्येभ्यो गहनो हि तवाशयः१९। काठिन्यमश्मसारेभ्यो वनेभ्यो बहुलां गता। कुटिलत्वं निम्नगाभ्यो दुःसेव्यत्वं हिमादपि२०। संक्रांतं सर्वमेवैतत्तन्वंगि हिमभूधरात्। इत्युक्ता सा पुनः प्राह गिरिशं शैलकन्यका२१। कोपकंपितमूर्द्धा सा प्रस्फुरद्दशनच्छदा। उमोवाच-। स्यात्सर्वं दोषदानेन निंदायां गुणिनो बलात्२२। तवापि दुष्टसंपर्कात्संक्रांतं सर्वमेव हि। व्यालेभ्योनेकजिह्वत्वं भस्मनोऽस्नेहवृत्तिता२३। हृत्कालुष्यं शशांकोत्थं दुर्बाधत्वं विषादपि। किं चात्र बहुनोक्तेन अलं वाचां श्रमेण ते२४। श्मशानवासान्निर्भीस्त्वं नग्नत्वात्तवनत्रपा। निर्घृणत्वं कपालित्वाद्दया ते विगता चिरम्२५। इत्युक्त्वा मंदिरात्तस्मान्निर्जगाम हिमाद्रिजा। तस्यां व्रजंत्यां देवेश्यां गणैः किलकिलाकृता२६। क्व मातर्गच्छसीत्युक्त्वा रुदद्भिर्धावितं पुनः। विष्टभ्य चरणौ देव्या वीरको बाष्पगद्गदः२७। प्रोवाच मातः किन्न्वेतत्क्व यासि कुपितातुरा। अहं त्वामनुयास्यामि व्रजंतीं स्नेहवर्जिताम्२८। नोचेत्पतिष्ये शिखराद्गिरेरस्य त्वयोज्झितः। उन्नम्यवदनं देवी दक्षिणेन तु पाणिना२९। उवाच वीरकं माता त्वं शोकं पुत्र मा कृथाः। शैलाग्रात्पतितुं नैव न च गंतुं मया सह३०। युक्तं ते पुत्र गच्छामि येन कार्येण तच्छृणु। कृष्णेत्युक्ता हरेणाहं स्तंभितास्म्यवमानिता३१। साहं तपः करिष्यामि येन गौरीत्वमाप्नुयाम्। एष स्त्रीलंपटो देवो यातायां मय्यनंतरम्३२। द्वाररक्षा त्वया कार्या नित्यं रन्ध्रान्ववेक्षणम्। यथा न काचित्प्रविशेद्योषित्तत्र हरांतिकम्३३। दृष्ट्वा परस्त्रियं चापि वदेथा मम पुत्रक। शीघ्रमेव करिष्यामि यथायुक्तमनंतरम्३४। एवमस्त्विति देवेशीं वीरकोवाच सांप्रतम्। मातुराज्ञामृताहार प्लावितांगो गतज्वरः३५। जगाम रक्षां स द्रष्टुं प्रणिपत्य तु मातरम्। देवी चापश्यदायांतीं सखीं मातुर्विभूषिताम्३६। कुसुमामोहिनीं नाम तस्य शैलस्य देवताम्। सापि दृष्ट्वा गिरिसुतां स्नेहविक्लवमानसा३७। क्व पुत्रि गच्छसीत्युच्चैरालिग्योवाच देवता। सा तस्याः सर्वमाचख्यौ शंकरात्कोपकारणम्३८। पुनश्चोवाचगिरिजा देवतां मातृसंमिताम्। उमोवाच-। नित्यं शैलाधिराजस्य देवतात्वमनिंदिते३९। सर्वतः सन्निधानं ते मनसातीव वत्सला। अतस्तु ते प्रवक्ष्यामि यद्विधेयं त्वयांबिके४०। अन्यस्त्रीसंप्रवेशस्तु त्वया रक्ष्यः प्रयत्नतः। सरहस्ये प्रयत्नेन निषेव्यः सततं गिरौ४१। पिनाकिनः प्रविष्टायां वक्तव्यं मे त्वयानघे। ततोहं संविधास्यामि यत्क्षमं तदनंतरम्४२। इत्युक्ता तां तथेत्युक्त्त्वा जगाम सा गिरिं शुभा। उमापि पितुरुद्यानं जगामाद्रिसुताद्भुतम्४३। अंतरिक्षं समाविश्य मेघमालाविलप्रभम्। भूषणानि ततो न्यस्य वृक्षवल्कलधारिणी४४। ग्रीष्मे पंचाग्निसंतप्ता वर्षासु च जलोषिता। वन्याहारा निराहारा शुष्कस्थंडिलशायिनी४५। एवं साधयती तत्र तपः सा च व्यवस्थिता। ज्ञात्वा गतां गिरिसुतां दैत्यस्तत्रांतरे बली४६। अंधकस्य सुतो हृष्टः पितुर्वधमनुस्मरन्। देवान्सर्वान्विजित्याजौ बकभ्राता रणोत्कटः४७। आडिर्नामांतरप्रेक्षी सततं चंद्रमौलिनः। आजगामामररिपुः पुरं त्रिपुरघातिनः४८। स तत्रागत्य ददृशे वीरकं द्वार्यवस्थितम्। विचिंत्य सोपि च वरं दत्तं कमलयोनिना४९। हते किलांधके दैत्ये गिरिशेनासुरद्विषा। आडिश्चकार विपुलं तपः परमदारुणम्1.44.५०। समागत्याब्रवीद्ब्रह्मा तपसा परितोषितः। किमाडे दानवश्रेष्ठ तपसा प्राप्तुमिच्छसि५१। ब्रह्माणमाह दैत्यस्तु निर्मृत्युत्वमहं वृणे। ब्रह्मोवाच-। जातानामिह संसारे विना मृत्युं न युज्यते५२। यतस्ततोपि दैत्येंद्र मृत्युः प्राप्यश्शरीरिभिः। इत्युक्तो दैत्यसिंहस्तु प्रोवाचांबुजसंभवम्५३। रूपस्यपरिवर्तो मे यदा स्यात्पद्मसंभव। तदा मृत्युर्मम भवेदन्यथा त्वमरोस्म्यहम्५४। इत्युक्तस्तु तदोवाच तुष्टः कमलसंभवः। यदा द्वितीयो रूपस्य विवर्त्तस्ते भविष्यति५५। तदा ते भविता मृत्युरन्यथा न भविष्यति। इत्युक्तोमरतां मेने दैत्यसूनुर्महाबलः५६। तस्मिन्काले त्वसंस्मृत्य तद्वधोपायमात्मनः। प्रतिहर्तुर्दृष्टिपथे वीरकस्याभवंस्तदा५७। भुजंगरूपी रंध्रेण प्रविवेश दृशःपथम्। परिहृत्य गणेशस्य दानवो रौद्रदुर्जयः५८। अलक्षितो गणेशेन प्रविश्याथ परां तनुम्। भुजंगरूपं संत्यज्य जग्राहाथ महासुरः५९। उमारूपं रमयितुं गिरिशं मूढचेतनः। कृत्वा मायामयं रूपमप्रतर्क्यं मनोहरम्६०। सर्वैरवयवैः पूर्णं सर्वाभिज्ञानबृंहितम्। कृत्वा भगांतरे दंतं दैत्यो वज्रमयं दृढम्६१। तीक्ष्णाग्रं बुद्धिमोहेन गिरिशं हंतुमुद्यतः। कृत्वोमारूपसंस्थानं गतो दैत्यो हरांतिकम्६२। पापो रम्याकृतिश्चित्र भूषणांबरसंयुतः। तं दृष्ट्वा गिरिशस्तुष्टस्तमालिंग्य महासुरम्६३। मन्यमानो गिरिसुतां सर्वैरवयवांतरैः। अपृच्छत्साधुभावं ते गिरिपुत्रि न कृत्रिमम्६४। या त्वं मदाशयं ज्ञात्वा प्राप्तेह वरवर्णिनी। त्वया विरहितं शून्यं मम स्थानं जगत्त्रयम्६५। प्राप्ता प्रसन्नवदने युक्तमेवंविधं त्वयि। इत्युक्तो दानवेंद्रस्तु तं बभाषे स्मितं शनैः६६। स चाबुध्यदभिज्ञानैः प्राह त्रिपुरघातिनम्। दैत्य उवाच। यातास्मि तपसः कामाद्वरं लब्धुं हिमाचलम्६७। रतिश्च तत्र मेनाभूत्ततः प्राप्ता त्वदंतिकम्। इत्युक्तः शंकरः शंकां चित्ते प्राप्तो विचारयन्६८। हृदयेन समाधाय देवः प्रहसिताननः। कुपिता कुपितं बुद्ध्वा प्रकृत्या च दृढव्रता६९। अप्राप्तकामा संप्राप्ता किमेतत्संविजानती। इति चिंत्य हरस्तस्या अभिज्ञानं विचारयन्७०। नापश्यद्वामपार्श्वे तु तदंकं पद्मलक्षणम्। लोम्नामावर्तरचितं ततो देवः पिनाकधृक्७१। बुद्ध्वा तां दानवीं मायामाकारं गूहयंस्ततः। मेढ्रदंष्ट्रास्त्रमादाय दानवं तमसादयत्७२। न चाबुध्यत तद्वृत्तं वीरको द्वाररक्षकः। कुसुमामोदिनं दृष्ट्वा स्त्रीरूपं दानवेश्वरम्७३। दूतेन मारुतेनाशु बोधिता हिमशैलजा। श्रुत्वा वायुमुखाद्देवी क्रोधरक्ताविलेक्षणा७४। अपश्यद्वीरकं पुत्रं हृदयेनैव दूयता। देव्युवाच। मातरं मां परित्यज्य यस्मात्त्वं स्नेहविक्लवाम्७५। विहितावसरः स्त्रीणां शंकरस्य रहोविधौ। तस्मात्ते मानुषे रूक्षा जडा हृदयवर्जिता७६। गणेशाकारसदृशी शिला माता भविष्यति। निमित्त एष विख्यातो वीरकस्य सुतादरात्७७। संभवे प्रक्रमे चैव विचित्राख्या न संशयः। एवमुत्सृष्टशापायां गिरिपुत्र्यामनंतरं७८। निर्जगाम मुखात्क्रोधः सिंहरूपी महाबलः। स तु सिंहः करालास्यः सटाजटिलकंधरः७९। ऊर्ध्वप्रोद्भूतलांगूलो दंष्ट्रोत्कटमुखावटः। व्यादितास्यो लंबजिह्वः क्षामः कुक्षिबलादिषु८०। अस्यास्ये वर्तितुं देवी व्यवस्थितवती तदा। ज्ञात्वा मनोगतं तस्या भगवांश्चतुराननः८१। आजगामाश्रमपदं संपदामाश्रयं यतः। आगम्योवाच देवेशो गिरिजां स्पष्टया गिरा८२। ब्रह्मोवाच-। किं पुनः प्राप्तुकामासि किमलभ्यं ददामि ते। विरम्यतामतिक्लेशात्तपसोस्मान्मदाज्ञया८३। तच्छ्रुत्वोवाचगिरिजा गुरोर्गौरवयंत्रितं। वाक्यं वाचाहरोद्गीर्णवर्णनिर्गमवांछितं८४। देव्युवाच-। तपसा दुष्करेणाप्तः पतिर्वै शंकरो मया। समां श्यामलवर्णेति बहुशः प्रोक्तवान्रहः८५। तस्मादहं कांचनाभवर्णा तन्नामसंयुता। भर्तुर्भूतपतेरंगमेकतो निर्विषं भवेत्८६। तस्यास्तद्भाषितं श्रुत्वा प्रोवाच जगदीश्वरः। एवं भव त्वं भूयश्च भर्तुर्देहार्द्धचारिणी८७। ततस्तत्याजतां कृष्णां फुल्लनीलोत्पलत्वचं। त्वक्च साप्यभवद्भीमा घंटाहस्तात्रिलोचना८८। नानाभरणसंपूर्णा पीतकौशेयधारिणी। तामब्रवीत्ततो ब्रह्मा देवीं नीलांबुजत्विषं८९। निशे भूधरजा देह संपर्का त्वं मदाज्ञया। संप्राप्ता कृतकृत्यत्वमेकानंशा पुरो ह्यसि९०। य एष सिंहः प्रोद्भूतो देव्याः क्रोधाद्वरानने। स तेस्तु वाहनं देवि केतौ चास्तु महाबलः९१। गच्छ विंध्याचलं तत्र सुरकार्यं करिष्यसि। पंचालो नाम यक्षोयं यक्षलक्षपदानुगः९२। दत्तस्ते किंकरो देवि मया मायाशतैर्युतः। इत्युक्त्वा कौशिकी देवी विंध्यशैलं जगाम ह९३। उमापि प्राप्तसंकल्पा जगाम गिरिशांतिकं। प्रविशंतीं तु तां द्वारादपहृत्य समाहितः९४। रुरोध वीरको देवीं हेमवेत्रलताधरः। तामुवाच च कोपेन रूपे तु व्यभिचारिणीं९५। प्रयोजनं न तेत्रास्ति गच्छ यावन्न भक्ष्यसे। देव्यारूपधरो दैत्यो देवं वंचितुमागतः९६। प्रविष्टो न च दृष्टोसौ स च देवेन घातितः। घातिते चाहमाज्ञप्तो नीलकंठेन कोपिना९७। द्वारे त्वनवधानं ते यस्मात्पश्यामि वै ततः। भविष्यसि न मे द्वास्थो वर्षपूगाननेकशः९८। अतस्ते नात्र दास्यामि प्रवेशं गम्यतां द्रुतम्। एकां मुक्त्वा गिरिसुतां मातरं स्नेहवत्सलाम्९९। प्रवेशं लभते नान्या नारी कमललोचने। इत्युक्त्वा तु तदा देवी चिंतयामास चेतसा1.44.१००। नारी नैव स दैतेयो वायुर्मे यामभाषत। वृथैव वीरकश्शप्तो मया क्रोधपरीतया१०१। अकार्यं क्रियते मूढैः प्रायः क्रोधसमन्वितैः। क्रोधेन नश्यते कीर्तिः क्रोधो हंति स्थितां श्रियम्१०२। अपरिच्छिन्नतत्वार्था पुत्रं शापितवत्यहं। विपरीतार्थबुद्धीनां सुलभो विपदागमः१०३। संचिंत्यैवमुवाचेदं वीरकं प्रति शैलजा। सज्जलज्जाविकारेण वदनेनाम्बुजत्विषा१०४। देव्युवाच-। अहं वीरक ते माता न तेस्तु मनसो भ्रमः। शंकरस्यास्मि दयिता सुता तुहिनभूभृतः१०५। मम गात्रच्छविभ्रांत्या मा शंकां पुत्र धारय। तुष्टेन गौरता दत्ता ममेयं पद्मजन्मना१०६। मया शप्तोस्यविदिते वृत्तांते दैत्यनिर्मिते। ज्ञात्वा नारीप्रवेशं तु शंकरे रहसि स्थिते१०७। ननिवर्तयितुं शक्यः शापः किंतु ब्रवीमि ते। शीघ्रमेष्यसि मानुष्यात्सर्वकामसमन्वितः१०८। शिरसा तु ततो वंद्य मातरं पूर्णमानसः। उवाच साध्वीं पूर्णेन्दु द्युतिं तुहिनशैलजां१०९। वीरक उवाच-। नतसुरासुरमौलिलसन्मणिप्रवरकांतिकरालिनखाङ्घ्रिके। नगसुते शरणागतवत्सले नवनमोवनतार्त्तिविनाशिनि११०। तपनमंडलमंडितकंधरे पृथुसुवर्णनगद्युतिहारिके। विषमभंगविषंगमभीषितो गिरिसुते भवतीमहमाश्रये१११। जगतिकाप्रणताभिमता ददौ झटिति सिद्धिमृते भवतीं यथा। जगतिकां प्रणमेच्छशिशेखरो भुवनभृन्मुनयो भवतीं यथा११२। विमलयोगविनिर्मितदुर्जये सुतनुतुल्यमहेश्वरमंडली। विदलितांधकबांधवसंहतिः सुरवरैः प्रथमं त्वमभिष्टुता११३। सितसटापटलोद्धतकंधराभवमहामृगराजरयस्थिता। विमलशक्तिमुखानलपिंगला यतभुजौघनिपिष्टमहासुरा११४। निगदिता भुवनैरतिचंडिकाजननिशुंभनिशुंभनिषूदिनी। प्रणतचिंतितदा भवदा नवप्रशमनैकरतिस्तरसा भुवि११५। वियतिवायुपथे ज्वलनाकुलेवनितले तव देवि च यद्वपुः। तदजितेप्रतिमे प्रणमाम्यहं भुवनभाविनिते भववल्लभे११६। जलधयो ललितोद्धतवीचयो हुतवहो द्युतिदग्धचराचरः। फणसहस्रभृतश्च भुजंगमास्त्वमभिधास्यसि मामभयंकरा११७। भगवति स्थिरभक्तजनाश्रये प्रतिगतो भवतीचरणाश्रयं। करणजातमिहास्तु ममाश्रवैतवविलासमुखानुभवास्यदम्११८। सुप्रसन्ना ततो देवी वीरकस्येति संस्तुता। प्रविवेश शुभंभर्तुर्भुवनं भूधरात्मजा११९। द्वास्थोपि वीरको देवान्हरदर्शनकांक्षिणः। व्यसर्जयत्स्वकानेव गृहानादरपूर्वकं१२०। नास्त्यत्रावसरो देवा देव्याः सह वृषाकपिः। निभृतः क्रीडतीत्युक्ता ययुस्ते च यथागतं१२१। गते वर्षसहस्रे तु देवास्त्वरितमानसाः। ज्वलनं चोदयामासुर्ज्ञातुं शंकरचेष्टितं१२२। प्रविश्य पक्षिरंध्रेण शुकरूपी हुताशनः। ददर्श शयने सर्वं रतौ गिरिजया सह१२३। ददर्श तं च देवेशो हुताशं शुकरूपिणं। तमुवाच महादेवः किंचित्कोपसमन्वितः१२४। शर्व उवाच। निषिक्तमर्धं देव्यां मे वीर्यं च शुकविग्रह। लज्जया विरतिश्चास्य त्वमर्धं पिब पावक१२५। यस्मात्तु त्वत्कृते विघ्नं तस्मात्त्वय्युपपद्यते। इत्युक्तः प्राञ्जलिर्वह्निरपिबद्वीर्यमाहितं१२६। तेनाप्लुतास्ततो देवास्तन्मुखा ऋभवो यतः। विपाट्य जठरं तेषां वीर्यं माहेश्वरं ततः१२७। निष्क्रांतं तप्तहेमाभं वितते शंकराश्रमे। तस्मिन्सरो महज्जातं विमलं बहुयोजनं१२८। प्रोत्फुल्लहेमकमलं नानाविहगनादितम्। तच्छ्रुत्वा तु सरो देवी जातं हेममहांबुजम्१२९। जगाम कौतुकाविष्टा तत्सरः कनकांबुजम्। तत्र कृत्वा जलक्रीडां तदब्जकृतशेखरा१३०। उपविष्टा ततस्तस्य तीरे देवी सखीवृता। पातुकामा च तत्तोयं स्वादुनिर्मलपंकजम्१३१। अपश्यत्कृत्तिकास्तास्स षडर्कद्युतिसन्निभाः। पद्मपत्रे तु तद्वारि गृहीत्वा प्रस्थिता गृहम्१३२। हर्षात्सोवाच पास्यामि पद्मपत्रे स्थितं पयः। ततःस्ता ऊचुरखिलाः कृत्तिका हिमशैलजाम्१३३। कृत्तिका ऊचुः-। दास्यामो दयिते गर्भे संभूतो यो भविष्यति। सोस्माकमपि पुत्रः स्यादस्मत्त्राता च वृत्तिमान्१३४। त्रिषु लोकेषु विख्यातः सर्वेष्वपि शुभानने। इत्युक्तोवाच गिरिजा कथं मद्गात्रसंभवैः१३५। सर्वैरवयवैर्युक्तो भवतीभ्यः सुतो भवेत्। ततस्तां कृत्तिका ऊचुर्विधास्यामोस्य वै वयम्१३६। उत्तमान्युत्तमांगानि यद्येवं तु भविष्यति। उक्ता वै शैलजा प्राह भवत्वेवमनिंदिताः१३७। ततस्तु हर्षसंपूर्णा पद्मपत्रस्थितं पयः। तस्यै ददुस्तया चापि तत्पीतं क्रमशो जलम्१३८। पीते तु सलिले चैव तस्मिन्नेव क्षणे वरः। विपाट्य देव्याश्च ततो दक्षिणं कुक्षिमुद्गतः१३९। निश्चक्रामाद्भुतो बालो रोगशोकविनाशनः। प्रभाकरकरव्रात प्रकारप्रकरप्रभुः१४०। गृहीतनिर्मलोदग्र शक्तिशूलांकुशोनलः। दीप्तो मारयितुं दैत्यानुत्थितः कनकच्छविः१४१। एतस्मात्कारणादेव कुमारश्चापि सोभवत्। वामं विदार्य निष्क्रांतस्ततो देव्याः पुनः शिशुः१४२। स्कंदोथ वदनाद्वह्नेः शुभ्रात्षड्वदनोरिहा। कृत्तिकासलिलादेव शाखाभिः सविशेषतः१४३। शाखाः शिवाः समाख्याताः षट्सुवक्त्रेषु विस्तृताः। यतस्ततो विशाखोसौ ख्यातो लोकेषु षण्मुखः१४४। स्कंदो विशाखः षड्वक्त्रः कार्तिकेयश्च विश्रुतः। पक्षे चैत्रस्य बहुले पंचदश्यां महाबलौ१४५। संभूतावर्कसदृशौ विशाले शरकानने। सिते पक्षे तु पंचम्यां तथैतौ पावकानलौ१४६। बालकाभ्यां चकारैकं संध्यायामेव भूतये। तस्यामेव ततः षष्ठ्यामभिषिक्तो गुहः प्रभुः१४७। सर्वैरमरसंघातैर्ब्रह्मोपेंद्रेंद्र भास्करैः। गंधमाल्यैः शुभैर्धूपैस्तथा क्रीडनकैरपि१४८। छत्रैश्चामरजालैश्च भूषणैश्च विलेपनैः। अभिषिक्तो विधानेन यथावत्षण्मुखः प्रभुः१४९। सुतामस्मै ददौ शक्रो देवसेनेति विश्रुताम्। पत्न्यर्थं देवदेवेशो ददौ विष्णुरथायुधम्1.44.१५०। यक्षाणां दशलक्षाणि ददावस्य धनाधिपः। ददौ हुताशनस्तेजो ददौ वायुश्च वाहनम्१५१। ददौ क्रीडनकं त्वष्टा कुक्कुटं कामरूपिणम्। एवं सुरास्तु ते सर्वे परिवारमनन्तकम्१५२। । ददुर्मुदितचेतस्काः स्कंदायादित्यवर्चसे। जानुभ्यामवनौ स्थित्वा सुरसंघास्तमस्तुवन्१५३। स्तोत्रेणानेन वरदं षण्मुखं मुख्यशः सुराः। देवा ऊचुः-। नमः कुमाराय महाप्रभाय स्कंदाय चास्कंदितदानवाय१५४। नवार्कबिंबप्रतिमप्रभाव नमोस्तु गुह्याय गुहाय तुभ्यम्। नमोस्तु ते लोकभयापहाय नमोस्तु ते लोककृपापराय१५५। नमो विशालामललोचनाय नमो विशाखाय महाव्रताय। नमो नमस्तेस्तु रणोत्कटाय नमो मयूरोज्ज्वलवाहनाय१५६। नमोस्तु केयूरधराय तुभ्यं नमो धृतोदग्रपताकिने ते। नमः प्रभावप्रणताय तेस्तु नमोऽस्तु घंटाधरधैर्यशालिने१५७। कुमार उवाच-। कं वः कामं प्रयच्छामि भवंतो ब्रूतनिर्वृताः। यद्यप्य साध्यं कृत्यं नो हृदये चिंतितं चिरम्१५८। इत्युक्तास्तु सुरास्तेन प्रोचुः प्रणतमौलयः। सर्व एव महात्मानं गुहं मुदितमानसाः१५९। दैत्येंद्रस्तारको नाम सर्वामरकुलांतकृत्। बलवान्दुर्जयस्तीक्ष्णो दुराचारोतिकोपनः१६०। तमेव जहि दुर्धर्षं दैत्यं सर्वविनाशनम्। उपस्थितः कृत्यशेषो ह्यस्माकं च भयावहः१६१। हिरण्यकशिपुश्चोग्रो ह्यवध्यो देवतागणैः। यज्ञघ्नः पापकर्मा वै येन ब्रह्मापि तापितः१६२। एतौ हरस्व भद्रं ते तावकं च महाबलम्। एवमुक्तस्तथेत्युक्त्वा सर्वामरपदानुगः१६३। जगाम जगतांनाथस्तूयमानोमरेश्वरैः। तारकस्य वधार्थाय जगतां कंटकस्य च१६४। ततश्च प्रेषयामास शक्रो गूढसमाश्रयः। दूतं दानवसिंहस्य परुषाक्षरवादिनम्१६५। स तु गत्वाब्रवीद्दैत्यमभयो भीमदर्शनम्। दूत उवाच। शक्रस्त्वामाह देवेशो दैत्यकेतुं दिवस्पतिः१६६। तारकासुर तच्छक्त्या घटयस्व यथेच्छया। यज्जगज्ज्वलनोद्दीप्तं किल्बिषं च त्वया कृतम्१६७। तस्याहं सादकस्तेद्य राजास्मि भुवनत्रये। श्रुत्वैतदद्भुतं वाक्यं कोपसंरक्तलोचनः१६८। उवाच दूतं दुष्टात्मा नष्टप्रायविभूतिकः। तारक उवाच-। दृष्टं ते पौरुषं शक्र शतशोथ महारणे१६९। निस्त्रपत्वान्न ते शांतिर्विद्यते शक्र दुर्मते। एवमुक्ते गते दूते चिंतयामास दानवः१७०। नालब्धसंश्रयः शक्रो वक्तुमेवमिहार्हति। जातः स्कंदोधुना शक्राज्ज्ञायते समुपाश्रयात्१७१। निमित्तौघांस्तदा दुष्टान्सोपश्यन्नाशवेदिनः। पांसुवर्षमसृक्पातं गगनादवनीतले१७२। वामनेत्रप्रकंपं च वक्त्रशोषं मनोमयम्। स्वकानां वक्त्रपद्मानां म्लानतां च व्यलोकयत्१७३। दुष्टांश्च प्राणिनो रौद्रान्सोपश्यद्दुष्टवादिनः। तदचिंत्यैव दितिजो न्यस्तचित्तोभवत्क्षणात्१७४। यावद्गजघटाघंटा घनत्काररवोत्कटाम्। तद्वत्तुरंगसंघातहेषोत्साहविभूषिताम्१७५। सैन्यैस्सेनान्तरोदग्र ध्वजराजैर्विराजिताम्। विमानैश्चाद्भुताकारैश्चलितामलचामरैः१७६। विभूषणपिनद्धां च किन्नरोद्गीतनादिताम्। नाना नाकतरूत्फुल्ल कुसुमापीडधारिणीम्१७७। विशोकास्त्रपरिस्फार चर्मनिर्मलदर्शिनीं। विद्युत्पुष्टद्युतिधरां नानावाद्यविनादिताम्१७८। सेनां नाकसदां दैत्यः प्रासादस्थो व्यलोकयत्। सचिंतयामास तदा किंचिद्विभ्रांतमानसः१७९। अपूर्वः को भवेद्योद्धा यो मया न विनिर्जितः। ततश्चिंताकुलो दैत्यः शुश्राव कटुकाक्षरम्। सिद्धवंदिभिरुद्घुष्टमिदं हृदयदारुणम्१८०। जयातुलशक्तिदीधितिपंजरभुजदंडप्रचंडतर। रभससुरवदनकुमुदविकासनविलासनेत्र कुमारवर१८१। जय दितिजकुलमहोदधि बडवानल मधुरमयूररथ सुरमकुट कोटि कुंचित चरण नखांकुर महासेन१८२। जय चलितललित चूडाकलापनवविमलकमल। दंडकांत दैत्येशवंश दुःसह दावानल१८३। जय विशाखविभोजय बालसप्तवासर भुवनालिशोकशमन जय सकललोक दितिसुतधुरंधरनाशक स्कंद१८४। श्रुत्वैतत्तारकः सर्वमुद्घुष्टं देववंदिभिः। सस्मार ब्रह्मणो वाक्यं वधं बालादुपस्थितं१८५। स्मृत्वा धर्मौघविध्वंसी सदा वीरपदानुगः। मंदिरान्निर्जगामाशु शोकग्रस्तेन चेतसा१८६। कालनेमिमुखा दैत्याः संत्रस्ता भ्रांतचेतसः। स्वेष्वनीकेषु च तदा त्वरा विस्मितचेतसः१८७। हिरण्यकशिपुः प्राह दानवानां धुरंधरः। त्रपाकरं भवेन्मह्यं बालस्यास्य पलायनम्१८८। यद्यहं हंतवे यामि सोपि वै कमलाश्रितः। हत्वाहं बालकं चैनं दुःस्पर्शः स्यामकारणं१८९। यात धावत गृह्णीत योजयध्वं वरूथिनीम्। कुमारं तारको दृष्ट्वा बभाषे भीषणाकृतिः१९०। किं बाल योद्धुकामोसि क्रीडकंदुकलीलया। येनातपो निसृष्टस्ते सत्संगरविभाषक१९१। बालत्वादथ ते बुद्धिरेवं स्वल्पार्थदर्शिनी। कुमारोपि तमग्रस्थं बभाषे हर्षवत्तमं१९२। शृणु तारक शास्त्रार्थ इह नैव निरूप्यते। शस्त्रैरर्था न दृश्यंते समरे निर्भरं भये१९३। शिशुत्वं मावमंस्था मे शिशुः कष्टो भुजंगमः। दुष्प्रेक्षो भास्करो बालस्तथाहं दुर्जयः शिशुः१९४। अल्पाक्षरो न मंत्रः किं सस्फुरो दैत्य दृश्यते। कुमारे प्रोक्तवत्येवं दैत्यश्चिक्षेप मुद्गरं१९५। कुमारस्तं निरासोग्रं चक्रेणामोघवर्चसा। ततश्चिक्षेप दैत्येंद्रो भिंदिपालमयोमयं१९६। करेण तं च जग्राह कार्तिकेयोमरारिहा। गदां मुमोच दैत्याय समुत्थाय खरस्वनाम्१९७। तया हतस्ततो दैत्यश्चकम्पेचलराडिव। मेने च दुर्जयं दैत्यस्तदाबालं सुदुःसहं१९८। चिंतयामास बुद्ध्या वै प्राप्तः कालो न संशयः। कंपितं च समालोक्य कालनेमि पुरोगमाः१९९। सर्वे देत्यैश्वरा जघ्नुः कुमारं रणदारुणं। स तैः प्रहारैरस्पृष्टस्तथा क्लैशैर्महाद्युतिः1.44.२००। स बालो बलिभिर्वेगैरयुध्यद्दानवै रणे। रणशौण्डाश्च दैत्येंद्रा पुःनर्जघ्नुः शिलीमुखैः२०१। कुमारं समरे दैत्या बलिनो देवकंटकाः। कुमारस्य व्यथा नाभूद्दैत्यास्त्रनिहतस्य तु२०२। प्राणांतकरणं जातं देवानां दानवा हवं। देवान्निपीडितान्दृष्ट्वा कुमारः कोपमाविशत्२०३। ततोस्त्रैर्दारयामास दानावानामनीकिनीम्। तैरस्त्रैर्निष्प्रतीकारैस्ताडितास्सुरकंटकाः२०४। कालनेमिमुखाः सर्वे रणे ह्यासन्पराङ्मुखाः। विद्रुतेषु च दैत्येषु प्रहतेषु समंततः२०५। किन्नरोद्गारगीतैश्च हास्यसन्यस्तचेतनः। जघ्ने कुमारं गदया निष्टप्तकनकत्विषा२०६। शरैर्मयूरं चित्रैश्च चकार विमुखं रणे। दृष्ट्वा पराड्मुखो देवो मुक्तरक्तं स्ववाहनम्२०७। जग्राह शक्तिं विमलां रणे कनकभूषणाम्। बाहुना हेमकेयूर रुचिरेण षडाननः२०८। ततोब्रवीन्महासेनस्तारकं दानवाधिपम्। तिष्ठतिष्ठ सुदुर्बुद्धे यमलोकं विलोकय२०९। हतो ह्यसि मया शक्त्या स्मर स्वं दैत्यचेष्टितम्। इत्युक्त्वा तु ततः शक्तिं मुमोच दितिजं प्रति२१०। सा कुमारभुजोत्सृष्टा तत्केयूररवानुगा। बिभेद दैत्यहृदयं वज्रशैलेंद्रकर्कशम्२११। गतासुः स पपातोर्व्यां प्रलये भूधरो यथा। विकीर्णमकुटोष्णीषो विस्रस्ताखिलभूषणः२१२। तस्मिन्विनिहते दैत्ये दानवानां धुरंधरे। नाभूत्कश्चित्तदा दुःखी नरकेष्वपि पापकृत्२१३। स्तुवंतः षण्मुखं देवाः प्राक्रीडन्नागतस्मिताः। जग्मुः स्वानेव भुवनान्निरस्यासंस्तथोत्सुकाः२१४। ददुश्चापि वरं सर्वे देवाश्च षण्मुखं प्रति। तुष्टाः संप्राप्तसर्वार्थास्सहसिद्धैस्तपोधनैः२१५। देवा ऊचुः। यः पठेत्स्कंदसंबंधां कथामेतां महामतिः। शृणुयाच्छ्रावयेद्वापि स भवेत्कीर्तिमान्नरः२१६। बह्वायुः सुभगः श्रीमान्कीर्तिमान्शुभदर्शनः। भूतेभ्यो निर्भयश्चापि सर्वदुःखविवर्जितः२१७। संध्यामुपास्य यः पूर्वां स्कंदस्य चरितं पठेत्। स युक्तः किन्नरैः सर्वैर्महाधनपतिर्भवेत्२१८।
śarva uvāca| śarīre mama tanvaṃgi site bhāsyasitadyutiḥ| bhujaṃgī vā sitā śubhre saṃśliṣṭā caṃdanetarau1| caṃdrātapena saṃpṛktā rudhirāmbarasaṃvṛtā| rajanī vā site pakṣe dṛṣṭidoṣaṃ dadāsi me2| ityuktā girijā tena muktakaṃṭhā pinākinam| uvāca koparaktākṣī bhrukuṭī vikṛtānanā3| devyuvāca-| svakṛtena janaḥ sarvo jāḍyena paribhūyate| avaśyamarthī prāpnoti khaṃḍanaṃ śaśimaṃḍana4| tapobhirdīrghacaritairyā tvāṃ prārthitavatyahaṃ| tasyā meni yatastveṣa hyavamānaḥ pade pade5| naivāsmi kuṭilā śarva viṣamā na ca dhūrjaṭe| saviṣastvaṃ jagatkhyāto vyaktadoṣākarāśrayaḥ6| tvaṃ hi muṣṇāsi daśanānnetrahaṃtā bhagasya ca| ādityastvāṃ vijānāti bhagavāndvādaśātmakaḥ7| mūrdhni śūlaṃ janayasi svairdoṣairmāmadhikṣipan| yastvaṃ māmātthakṛṣṇeti mahākālosi viśrutaḥ8| yāsyāmyahaṃ parityaktumātmānaṃ tapasā girim| jīvaṃtyā na mayā kṛtyaṃ dhūrtena paribhūtayā9| kāpālikena kṣudreṇa śmaśāne nityavāsinā| bhūtyā vilipta svāṃgena mātṛmadhyastha cāriṇā10| niśamya tasyā vacanaṃ kopatīkṣṇākṣaraṃ haraḥ| uvācāniṣṭasaṃbhrāṃtaḥ pracaleneṃdumaulinā11| śarva uvāca| agātmajāsi girije nāhaṃ niṃdāparastava| cāṭūktibudhyā tu mayā kṛta unmādasaṃśrayaḥ12| vikalpaḥ svasthacitte tu girije na mama kramāt| yadyevaṃ kupitā bhīru tattavāhaṃ na vai punaḥ13| narmavādī bhaviṣyāmi jahi kopaṃ śucismite| śirasā praṇatenaiṣa racitaste mayāṃjali14| ni hīno hyapamānena niṃdite naiti vikriyām| asatāṃ tu satāṃ na syānmarmaspṛṣṭo naraḥ kila15| anekaiścāṭubhirdevī devena pratibodhitā| kopaṃ tīvraṃ na tatyāja satī marmaṇi ghaṭṭitā16| avaṣṭabdhamathācchidya vāsaḥ śaṃkarapāṇinā| viparyastālakāvegādgantumaicchacca śailajā17| tasyā vrajaṃtyāḥ kopena punarāha purāṃtakaḥ| satyaṃ sarvairavayavaistanoṣi sadṛśāṃ pituḥ18| himācalasya śṛṃgasthameva jālākulaṃ manaḥ| tathā duravagāhyebhyo gahano hi tavāśayaḥ19| kāṭhinyamaśmasārebhyo vanebhyo bahulāṃ gatā| kuṭilatvaṃ nimnagābhyo duḥsevyatvaṃ himādapi20| saṃkrāṃtaṃ sarvamevaitattanvaṃgi himabhūdharāt| ityuktā sā punaḥ prāha giriśaṃ śailakanyakā21| kopakaṃpitamūrddhā sā prasphuraddaśanacchadā| umovāca-| syātsarvaṃ doṣadānena niṃdāyāṃ guṇino balāt22| tavāpi duṣṭasaṃparkātsaṃkrāṃtaṃ sarvameva hi| vyālebhyonekajihvatvaṃ bhasmano'snehavṛttitā23| hṛtkāluṣyaṃ śaśāṃkotthaṃ durbādhatvaṃ viṣādapi| kiṃ cātra bahunoktena alaṃ vācāṃ śrameṇa te24| śmaśānavāsānnirbhīstvaṃ nagnatvāttavanatrapā| nirghṛṇatvaṃ kapālitvāddayā te vigatā ciram25| ityuktvā maṃdirāttasmānnirjagāma himādrijā| tasyāṃ vrajaṃtyāṃ deveśyāṃ gaṇaiḥ kilakilākṛtā26| kva mātargacchasītyuktvā rudadbhirdhāvitaṃ punaḥ| viṣṭabhya caraṇau devyā vīrako bāṣpagadgadaḥ27| provāca mātaḥ kinnvetatkva yāsi kupitāturā| ahaṃ tvāmanuyāsyāmi vrajaṃtīṃ snehavarjitām28| nocetpatiṣye śikharādgirerasya tvayojjhitaḥ| unnamyavadanaṃ devī dakṣiṇena tu pāṇinā29| uvāca vīrakaṃ mātā tvaṃ śokaṃ putra mā kṛthāḥ| śailāgrātpatituṃ naiva na ca gaṃtuṃ mayā saha30| yuktaṃ te putra gacchāmi yena kāryeṇa tacchṛṇu| kṛṣṇetyuktā hareṇāhaṃ staṃbhitāsmyavamānitā31| sāhaṃ tapaḥ kariṣyāmi yena gaurītvamāpnuyām| eṣa strīlaṃpaṭo devo yātāyāṃ mayyanaṃtaram32| dvārarakṣā tvayā kāryā nityaṃ randhrānvavekṣaṇam| yathā na kācitpraviśedyoṣittatra harāṃtikam33| dṛṣṭvā parastriyaṃ cāpi vadethā mama putraka| śīghrameva kariṣyāmi yathāyuktamanaṃtaram34| evamastviti deveśīṃ vīrakovāca sāṃpratam| māturājñāmṛtāhāra plāvitāṃgo gatajvaraḥ35| jagāma rakṣāṃ sa draṣṭuṃ praṇipatya tu mātaram| devī cāpaśyadāyāṃtīṃ sakhīṃ māturvibhūṣitām36| kusumāmohinīṃ nāma tasya śailasya devatām| sāpi dṛṣṭvā girisutāṃ snehaviklavamānasā37| kva putri gacchasītyuccairāligyovāca devatā| sā tasyāḥ sarvamācakhyau śaṃkarātkopakāraṇam38| punaścovācagirijā devatāṃ mātṛsaṃmitām| umovāca-| nityaṃ śailādhirājasya devatātvamaniṃdite39| sarvataḥ sannidhānaṃ te manasātīva vatsalā| atastu te pravakṣyāmi yadvidheyaṃ tvayāṃbike40| anyastrīsaṃpraveśastu tvayā rakṣyaḥ prayatnataḥ| sarahasye prayatnena niṣevyaḥ satataṃ girau41| pinākinaḥ praviṣṭāyāṃ vaktavyaṃ me tvayānaghe| tatohaṃ saṃvidhāsyāmi yatkṣamaṃ tadanaṃtaram42| ityuktā tāṃ tathetyukttvā jagāma sā giriṃ śubhā| umāpi piturudyānaṃ jagāmādrisutādbhutam43| aṃtarikṣaṃ samāviśya meghamālāvilaprabham| bhūṣaṇāni tato nyasya vṛkṣavalkaladhāriṇī44| grīṣme paṃcāgnisaṃtaptā varṣāsu ca jaloṣitā| vanyāhārā nirāhārā śuṣkasthaṃḍilaśāyinī45| evaṃ sādhayatī tatra tapaḥ sā ca vyavasthitā| jñātvā gatāṃ girisutāṃ daityastatrāṃtare balī46| aṃdhakasya suto hṛṣṭaḥ piturvadhamanusmaran| devānsarvānvijityājau bakabhrātā raṇotkaṭaḥ47| āḍirnāmāṃtaraprekṣī satataṃ caṃdramaulinaḥ| ājagāmāmararipuḥ puraṃ tripuraghātinaḥ48| sa tatrāgatya dadṛśe vīrakaṃ dvāryavasthitam| viciṃtya sopi ca varaṃ dattaṃ kamalayoninā49| hate kilāṃdhake daitye giriśenāsuradviṣā| āḍiścakāra vipulaṃ tapaḥ paramadāruṇam1.44.50| samāgatyābravīdbrahmā tapasā paritoṣitaḥ| kimāḍe dānavaśreṣṭha tapasā prāptumicchasi51| brahmāṇamāha daityastu nirmṛtyutvamahaṃ vṛṇe| brahmovāca-| jātānāmiha saṃsāre vinā mṛtyuṃ na yujyate52| yatastatopi daityeṃdra mṛtyuḥ prāpyaśśarīribhiḥ| ityukto daityasiṃhastu provācāṃbujasaṃbhavam53| rūpasyaparivarto me yadā syātpadmasaṃbhava| tadā mṛtyurmama bhavedanyathā tvamarosmyaham54| ityuktastu tadovāca tuṣṭaḥ kamalasaṃbhavaḥ| yadā dvitīyo rūpasya vivarttaste bhaviṣyati55| tadā te bhavitā mṛtyuranyathā na bhaviṣyati| ityuktomaratāṃ mene daityasūnurmahābalaḥ56| tasminkāle tvasaṃsmṛtya tadvadhopāyamātmanaḥ| pratiharturdṛṣṭipathe vīrakasyābhavaṃstadā57| bhujaṃgarūpī raṃdhreṇa praviveśa dṛśaḥpatham| parihṛtya gaṇeśasya dānavo raudradurjayaḥ58| alakṣito gaṇeśena praviśyātha parāṃ tanum| bhujaṃgarūpaṃ saṃtyajya jagrāhātha mahāsuraḥ59| umārūpaṃ ramayituṃ giriśaṃ mūḍhacetanaḥ| kṛtvā māyāmayaṃ rūpamapratarkyaṃ manoharam60| sarvairavayavaiḥ pūrṇaṃ sarvābhijñānabṛṃhitam| kṛtvā bhagāṃtare daṃtaṃ daityo vajramayaṃ dṛḍham61| tīkṣṇāgraṃ buddhimohena giriśaṃ haṃtumudyataḥ| kṛtvomārūpasaṃsthānaṃ gato daityo harāṃtikam62| pāpo ramyākṛtiścitra bhūṣaṇāṃbarasaṃyutaḥ| taṃ dṛṣṭvā giriśastuṣṭastamāliṃgya mahāsuram63| manyamāno girisutāṃ sarvairavayavāṃtaraiḥ| apṛcchatsādhubhāvaṃ te giriputri na kṛtrimam64| yā tvaṃ madāśayaṃ jñātvā prāpteha varavarṇinī| tvayā virahitaṃ śūnyaṃ mama sthānaṃ jagattrayam65| prāptā prasannavadane yuktamevaṃvidhaṃ tvayi| ityukto dānaveṃdrastu taṃ babhāṣe smitaṃ śanaiḥ66| sa cābudhyadabhijñānaiḥ prāha tripuraghātinam| daitya uvāca| yātāsmi tapasaḥ kāmādvaraṃ labdhuṃ himācalam67| ratiśca tatra menābhūttataḥ prāptā tvadaṃtikam| ityuktaḥ śaṃkaraḥ śaṃkāṃ citte prāpto vicārayan68| hṛdayena samādhāya devaḥ prahasitānanaḥ| kupitā kupitaṃ buddhvā prakṛtyā ca dṛḍhavratā69| aprāptakāmā saṃprāptā kimetatsaṃvijānatī| iti ciṃtya harastasyā abhijñānaṃ vicārayan70| nāpaśyadvāmapārśve tu tadaṃkaṃ padmalakṣaṇam| lomnāmāvartaracitaṃ tato devaḥ pinākadhṛk71| buddhvā tāṃ dānavīṃ māyāmākāraṃ gūhayaṃstataḥ| meḍhradaṃṣṭrāstramādāya dānavaṃ tamasādayat72| na cābudhyata tadvṛttaṃ vīrako dvārarakṣakaḥ| kusumāmodinaṃ dṛṣṭvā strīrūpaṃ dānaveśvaram73| dūtena mārutenāśu bodhitā himaśailajā| śrutvā vāyumukhāddevī krodharaktāvilekṣaṇā74| apaśyadvīrakaṃ putraṃ hṛdayenaiva dūyatā| devyuvāca| mātaraṃ māṃ parityajya yasmāttvaṃ snehaviklavām75| vihitāvasaraḥ strīṇāṃ śaṃkarasya rahovidhau| tasmātte mānuṣe rūkṣā jaḍā hṛdayavarjitā76| gaṇeśākārasadṛśī śilā mātā bhaviṣyati| nimitta eṣa vikhyāto vīrakasya sutādarāt77| saṃbhave prakrame caiva vicitrākhyā na saṃśayaḥ| evamutsṛṣṭaśāpāyāṃ giriputryāmanaṃtaraṃ78| nirjagāma mukhātkrodhaḥ siṃharūpī mahābalaḥ| sa tu siṃhaḥ karālāsyaḥ saṭājaṭilakaṃdharaḥ79| ūrdhvaprodbhūtalāṃgūlo daṃṣṭrotkaṭamukhāvaṭaḥ| vyāditāsyo laṃbajihvaḥ kṣāmaḥ kukṣibalādiṣu80| asyāsye vartituṃ devī vyavasthitavatī tadā| jñātvā manogataṃ tasyā bhagavāṃścaturānanaḥ81| ājagāmāśramapadaṃ saṃpadāmāśrayaṃ yataḥ| āgamyovāca deveśo girijāṃ spaṣṭayā girā82| brahmovāca-| kiṃ punaḥ prāptukāmāsi kimalabhyaṃ dadāmi te| viramyatāmatikleśāttapasosmānmadājñayā83| tacchrutvovācagirijā gurorgauravayaṃtritaṃ| vākyaṃ vācāharodgīrṇavarṇanirgamavāṃchitaṃ84| devyuvāca-| tapasā duṣkareṇāptaḥ patirvai śaṃkaro mayā| samāṃ śyāmalavarṇeti bahuśaḥ proktavānrahaḥ85| tasmādahaṃ kāṃcanābhavarṇā tannāmasaṃyutā| bharturbhūtapateraṃgamekato nirviṣaṃ bhavet86| tasyāstadbhāṣitaṃ śrutvā provāca jagadīśvaraḥ| evaṃ bhava tvaṃ bhūyaśca bharturdehārddhacāriṇī87| tatastatyājatāṃ kṛṣṇāṃ phullanīlotpalatvacaṃ| tvakca sāpyabhavadbhīmā ghaṃṭāhastātrilocanā88| nānābharaṇasaṃpūrṇā pītakauśeyadhāriṇī| tāmabravīttato brahmā devīṃ nīlāṃbujatviṣaṃ89| niśe bhūdharajā deha saṃparkā tvaṃ madājñayā| saṃprāptā kṛtakṛtyatvamekānaṃśā puro hyasi90| ya eṣa siṃhaḥ prodbhūto devyāḥ krodhādvarānane| sa testu vāhanaṃ devi ketau cāstu mahābalaḥ91| gaccha viṃdhyācalaṃ tatra surakāryaṃ kariṣyasi| paṃcālo nāma yakṣoyaṃ yakṣalakṣapadānugaḥ92| dattaste kiṃkaro devi mayā māyāśatairyutaḥ| ityuktvā kauśikī devī viṃdhyaśailaṃ jagāma ha93| umāpi prāptasaṃkalpā jagāma giriśāṃtikaṃ| praviśaṃtīṃ tu tāṃ dvārādapahṛtya samāhitaḥ94| rurodha vīrako devīṃ hemavetralatādharaḥ| tāmuvāca ca kopena rūpe tu vyabhicāriṇīṃ95| prayojanaṃ na tetrāsti gaccha yāvanna bhakṣyase| devyārūpadharo daityo devaṃ vaṃcitumāgataḥ96| praviṣṭo na ca dṛṣṭosau sa ca devena ghātitaḥ| ghātite cāhamājñapto nīlakaṃṭhena kopinā97| dvāre tvanavadhānaṃ te yasmātpaśyāmi vai tataḥ| bhaviṣyasi na me dvāstho varṣapūgānanekaśaḥ98| ataste nātra dāsyāmi praveśaṃ gamyatāṃ drutam| ekāṃ muktvā girisutāṃ mātaraṃ snehavatsalām99| praveśaṃ labhate nānyā nārī kamalalocane| ityuktvā tu tadā devī ciṃtayāmāsa cetasā1.44.100| nārī naiva sa daiteyo vāyurme yāmabhāṣata| vṛthaiva vīrakaśśapto mayā krodhaparītayā101| akāryaṃ kriyate mūḍhaiḥ prāyaḥ krodhasamanvitaiḥ| krodhena naśyate kīrtiḥ krodho haṃti sthitāṃ śriyam102| aparicchinnatatvārthā putraṃ śāpitavatyahaṃ| viparītārthabuddhīnāṃ sulabho vipadāgamaḥ103| saṃciṃtyaivamuvācedaṃ vīrakaṃ prati śailajā| sajjalajjāvikāreṇa vadanenāmbujatviṣā104| devyuvāca-| ahaṃ vīraka te mātā na testu manaso bhramaḥ| śaṃkarasyāsmi dayitā sutā tuhinabhūbhṛtaḥ105| mama gātracchavibhrāṃtyā mā śaṃkāṃ putra dhāraya| tuṣṭena gauratā dattā mameyaṃ padmajanmanā106| mayā śaptosyavidite vṛttāṃte daityanirmite| jñātvā nārīpraveśaṃ tu śaṃkare rahasi sthite107| nanivartayituṃ śakyaḥ śāpaḥ kiṃtu bravīmi te| śīghrameṣyasi mānuṣyātsarvakāmasamanvitaḥ108| śirasā tu tato vaṃdya mātaraṃ pūrṇamānasaḥ| uvāca sādhvīṃ pūrṇendu dyutiṃ tuhinaśailajāṃ109| vīraka uvāca-| natasurāsuramaulilasanmaṇipravarakāṃtikarālinakhāṅghrike| nagasute śaraṇāgatavatsale navanamovanatārttivināśini110| tapanamaṃḍalamaṃḍitakaṃdhare pṛthusuvarṇanagadyutihārike| viṣamabhaṃgaviṣaṃgamabhīṣito girisute bhavatīmahamāśraye111| jagatikāpraṇatābhimatā dadau jhaṭiti siddhimṛte bhavatīṃ yathā| jagatikāṃ praṇamecchaśiśekharo bhuvanabhṛnmunayo bhavatīṃ yathā112| vimalayogavinirmitadurjaye sutanutulyamaheśvaramaṃḍalī| vidalitāṃdhakabāṃdhavasaṃhatiḥ suravaraiḥ prathamaṃ tvamabhiṣṭutā113| sitasaṭāpaṭaloddhatakaṃdharābhavamahāmṛgarājarayasthitā| vimalaśaktimukhānalapiṃgalā yatabhujaughanipiṣṭamahāsurā114| nigaditā bhuvanairaticaṃḍikājananiśuṃbhaniśuṃbhaniṣūdinī| praṇataciṃtitadā bhavadā navapraśamanaikaratistarasā bhuvi115| viyativāyupathe jvalanākulevanitale tava devi ca yadvapuḥ| tadajitepratime praṇamāmyahaṃ bhuvanabhāvinite bhavavallabhe116| jaladhayo lalitoddhatavīcayo hutavaho dyutidagdhacarācaraḥ| phaṇasahasrabhṛtaśca bhujaṃgamāstvamabhidhāsyasi māmabhayaṃkarā117| bhagavati sthirabhaktajanāśraye pratigato bhavatīcaraṇāśrayaṃ| karaṇajātamihāstu mamāśravaitavavilāsamukhānubhavāsyadam118| suprasannā tato devī vīrakasyeti saṃstutā| praviveśa śubhaṃbharturbhuvanaṃ bhūdharātmajā119| dvāsthopi vīrako devānharadarśanakāṃkṣiṇaḥ| vyasarjayatsvakāneva gṛhānādarapūrvakaṃ120| nāstyatrāvasaro devā devyāḥ saha vṛṣākapiḥ| nibhṛtaḥ krīḍatītyuktā yayuste ca yathāgataṃ121| gate varṣasahasre tu devāstvaritamānasāḥ| jvalanaṃ codayāmāsurjñātuṃ śaṃkaraceṣṭitaṃ122| praviśya pakṣiraṃdhreṇa śukarūpī hutāśanaḥ| dadarśa śayane sarvaṃ ratau girijayā saha123| dadarśa taṃ ca deveśo hutāśaṃ śukarūpiṇaṃ| tamuvāca mahādevaḥ kiṃcitkopasamanvitaḥ124| śarva uvāca| niṣiktamardhaṃ devyāṃ me vīryaṃ ca śukavigraha| lajjayā viratiścāsya tvamardhaṃ piba pāvaka125| yasmāttu tvatkṛte vighnaṃ tasmāttvayyupapadyate| ityuktaḥ prāñjalirvahnirapibadvīryamāhitaṃ126| tenāplutāstato devāstanmukhā ṛbhavo yataḥ| vipāṭya jaṭharaṃ teṣāṃ vīryaṃ māheśvaraṃ tataḥ127| niṣkrāṃtaṃ taptahemābhaṃ vitate śaṃkarāśrame| tasminsaro mahajjātaṃ vimalaṃ bahuyojanaṃ128| protphullahemakamalaṃ nānāvihaganāditam| tacchrutvā tu saro devī jātaṃ hemamahāṃbujam129| jagāma kautukāviṣṭā tatsaraḥ kanakāṃbujam| tatra kṛtvā jalakrīḍāṃ tadabjakṛtaśekharā130| upaviṣṭā tatastasya tīre devī sakhīvṛtā| pātukāmā ca tattoyaṃ svādunirmalapaṃkajam131| apaśyatkṛttikāstāssa ṣaḍarkadyutisannibhāḥ| padmapatre tu tadvāri gṛhītvā prasthitā gṛham132| harṣātsovāca pāsyāmi padmapatre sthitaṃ payaḥ| tataḥstā ūcurakhilāḥ kṛttikā himaśailajām133| kṛttikā ūcuḥ-| dāsyāmo dayite garbhe saṃbhūto yo bhaviṣyati| sosmākamapi putraḥ syādasmattrātā ca vṛttimān134| triṣu lokeṣu vikhyātaḥ sarveṣvapi śubhānane| ityuktovāca girijā kathaṃ madgātrasaṃbhavaiḥ135| sarvairavayavairyukto bhavatībhyaḥ suto bhavet| tatastāṃ kṛttikā ūcurvidhāsyāmosya vai vayam136| uttamānyuttamāṃgāni yadyevaṃ tu bhaviṣyati| uktā vai śailajā prāha bhavatvevamaniṃditāḥ137| tatastu harṣasaṃpūrṇā padmapatrasthitaṃ payaḥ| tasyai dadustayā cāpi tatpītaṃ kramaśo jalam138| pīte tu salile caiva tasminneva kṣaṇe varaḥ| vipāṭya devyāśca tato dakṣiṇaṃ kukṣimudgataḥ139| niścakrāmādbhuto bālo rogaśokavināśanaḥ| prabhākarakaravrāta prakāraprakaraprabhuḥ140| gṛhītanirmalodagra śaktiśūlāṃkuśonalaḥ| dīpto mārayituṃ daityānutthitaḥ kanakacchaviḥ141| etasmātkāraṇādeva kumāraścāpi sobhavat| vāmaṃ vidārya niṣkrāṃtastato devyāḥ punaḥ śiśuḥ142| skaṃdotha vadanādvahneḥ śubhrātṣaḍvadanorihā| kṛttikāsalilādeva śākhābhiḥ saviśeṣataḥ143| śākhāḥ śivāḥ samākhyātāḥ ṣaṭsuvaktreṣu vistṛtāḥ| yatastato viśākhosau khyāto lokeṣu ṣaṇmukhaḥ144| skaṃdo viśākhaḥ ṣaḍvaktraḥ kārtikeyaśca viśrutaḥ| pakṣe caitrasya bahule paṃcadaśyāṃ mahābalau145| saṃbhūtāvarkasadṛśau viśāle śarakānane| site pakṣe tu paṃcamyāṃ tathaitau pāvakānalau146| bālakābhyāṃ cakāraikaṃ saṃdhyāyāmeva bhūtaye| tasyāmeva tataḥ ṣaṣṭhyāmabhiṣikto guhaḥ prabhuḥ147| sarvairamarasaṃghātairbrahmopeṃdreṃdra bhāskaraiḥ| gaṃdhamālyaiḥ śubhairdhūpaistathā krīḍanakairapi148| chatraiścāmarajālaiśca bhūṣaṇaiśca vilepanaiḥ| abhiṣikto vidhānena yathāvatṣaṇmukhaḥ prabhuḥ149| sutāmasmai dadau śakro devaseneti viśrutām| patnyarthaṃ devadeveśo dadau viṣṇurathāyudham1.44.150| yakṣāṇāṃ daśalakṣāṇi dadāvasya dhanādhipaḥ| dadau hutāśanastejo dadau vāyuśca vāhanam151| dadau krīḍanakaṃ tvaṣṭā kukkuṭaṃ kāmarūpiṇam| evaṃ surāstu te sarve parivāramanantakam152| | dadurmuditacetaskāḥ skaṃdāyādityavarcase| jānubhyāmavanau sthitvā surasaṃghāstamastuvan153| stotreṇānena varadaṃ ṣaṇmukhaṃ mukhyaśaḥ surāḥ| devā ūcuḥ-| namaḥ kumārāya mahāprabhāya skaṃdāya cāskaṃditadānavāya154| navārkabiṃbapratimaprabhāva namostu guhyāya guhāya tubhyam| namostu te lokabhayāpahāya namostu te lokakṛpāparāya155| namo viśālāmalalocanāya namo viśākhāya mahāvratāya| namo namastestu raṇotkaṭāya namo mayūrojjvalavāhanāya156| namostu keyūradharāya tubhyaṃ namo dhṛtodagrapatākine te| namaḥ prabhāvapraṇatāya testu namo'stu ghaṃṭādharadhairyaśāline157| kumāra uvāca-| kaṃ vaḥ kāmaṃ prayacchāmi bhavaṃto brūtanirvṛtāḥ| yadyapya sādhyaṃ kṛtyaṃ no hṛdaye ciṃtitaṃ ciram158| ityuktāstu surāstena procuḥ praṇatamaulayaḥ| sarva eva mahātmānaṃ guhaṃ muditamānasāḥ159| daityeṃdrastārako nāma sarvāmarakulāṃtakṛt| balavāndurjayastīkṣṇo durācārotikopanaḥ160| tameva jahi durdharṣaṃ daityaṃ sarvavināśanam| upasthitaḥ kṛtyaśeṣo hyasmākaṃ ca bhayāvahaḥ161| hiraṇyakaśipuścogro hyavadhyo devatāgaṇaiḥ| yajñaghnaḥ pāpakarmā vai yena brahmāpi tāpitaḥ162| etau harasva bhadraṃ te tāvakaṃ ca mahābalam| evamuktastathetyuktvā sarvāmarapadānugaḥ163| jagāma jagatāṃnāthastūyamānomareśvaraiḥ| tārakasya vadhārthāya jagatāṃ kaṃṭakasya ca164| tataśca preṣayāmāsa śakro gūḍhasamāśrayaḥ| dūtaṃ dānavasiṃhasya paruṣākṣaravādinam165| sa tu gatvābravīddaityamabhayo bhīmadarśanam| dūta uvāca| śakrastvāmāha deveśo daityaketuṃ divaspatiḥ166| tārakāsura tacchaktyā ghaṭayasva yathecchayā| yajjagajjvalanoddīptaṃ kilbiṣaṃ ca tvayā kṛtam167| tasyāhaṃ sādakastedya rājāsmi bhuvanatraye| śrutvaitadadbhutaṃ vākyaṃ kopasaṃraktalocanaḥ168| uvāca dūtaṃ duṣṭātmā naṣṭaprāyavibhūtikaḥ| tāraka uvāca-| dṛṣṭaṃ te pauruṣaṃ śakra śataśotha mahāraṇe169| nistrapatvānna te śāṃtirvidyate śakra durmate| evamukte gate dūte ciṃtayāmāsa dānavaḥ170| nālabdhasaṃśrayaḥ śakro vaktumevamihārhati| jātaḥ skaṃdodhunā śakrājjñāyate samupāśrayāt171| nimittaughāṃstadā duṣṭānsopaśyannāśavedinaḥ| pāṃsuvarṣamasṛkpātaṃ gaganādavanītale172| vāmanetraprakaṃpaṃ ca vaktraśoṣaṃ manomayam| svakānāṃ vaktrapadmānāṃ mlānatāṃ ca vyalokayat173| duṣṭāṃśca prāṇino raudrānsopaśyadduṣṭavādinaḥ| tadaciṃtyaiva ditijo nyastacittobhavatkṣaṇāt174| yāvadgajaghaṭāghaṃṭā ghanatkāraravotkaṭām| tadvatturaṃgasaṃghātaheṣotsāhavibhūṣitām175| sainyaissenāntarodagra dhvajarājairvirājitām| vimānaiścādbhutākāraiścalitāmalacāmaraiḥ176| vibhūṣaṇapinaddhāṃ ca kinnarodgītanāditām| nānā nākatarūtphulla kusumāpīḍadhāriṇīm177| viśokāstraparisphāra carmanirmaladarśinīṃ| vidyutpuṣṭadyutidharāṃ nānāvādyavināditām178| senāṃ nākasadāṃ daityaḥ prāsādastho vyalokayat| saciṃtayāmāsa tadā kiṃcidvibhrāṃtamānasaḥ179| apūrvaḥ ko bhavedyoddhā yo mayā na vinirjitaḥ| tataściṃtākulo daityaḥ śuśrāva kaṭukākṣaram| siddhavaṃdibhirudghuṣṭamidaṃ hṛdayadāruṇam180| jayātulaśaktidīdhitipaṃjarabhujadaṃḍapracaṃḍatara| rabhasasuravadanakumudavikāsanavilāsanetra kumāravara181| jaya ditijakulamahodadhi baḍavānala madhuramayūraratha suramakuṭa koṭi kuṃcita caraṇa nakhāṃkura mahāsena182| jaya calitalalita cūḍākalāpanavavimalakamala| daṃḍakāṃta daityeśavaṃśa duḥsaha dāvānala183| jaya viśākhavibhojaya bālasaptavāsara bhuvanāliśokaśamana jaya sakalaloka ditisutadhuraṃdharanāśaka skaṃda184| śrutvaitattārakaḥ sarvamudghuṣṭaṃ devavaṃdibhiḥ| sasmāra brahmaṇo vākyaṃ vadhaṃ bālādupasthitaṃ185| smṛtvā dharmaughavidhvaṃsī sadā vīrapadānugaḥ| maṃdirānnirjagāmāśu śokagrastena cetasā186| kālanemimukhā daityāḥ saṃtrastā bhrāṃtacetasaḥ| sveṣvanīkeṣu ca tadā tvarā vismitacetasaḥ187| hiraṇyakaśipuḥ prāha dānavānāṃ dhuraṃdharaḥ| trapākaraṃ bhavenmahyaṃ bālasyāsya palāyanam188| yadyahaṃ haṃtave yāmi sopi vai kamalāśritaḥ| hatvāhaṃ bālakaṃ cainaṃ duḥsparśaḥ syāmakāraṇaṃ189| yāta dhāvata gṛhṇīta yojayadhvaṃ varūthinīm| kumāraṃ tārako dṛṣṭvā babhāṣe bhīṣaṇākṛtiḥ190| kiṃ bāla yoddhukāmosi krīḍakaṃdukalīlayā| yenātapo nisṛṣṭaste satsaṃgaravibhāṣaka191| bālatvādatha te buddhirevaṃ svalpārthadarśinī| kumāropi tamagrasthaṃ babhāṣe harṣavattamaṃ192| śṛṇu tāraka śāstrārtha iha naiva nirūpyate| śastrairarthā na dṛśyaṃte samare nirbharaṃ bhaye193| śiśutvaṃ māvamaṃsthā me śiśuḥ kaṣṭo bhujaṃgamaḥ| duṣprekṣo bhāskaro bālastathāhaṃ durjayaḥ śiśuḥ194| alpākṣaro na maṃtraḥ kiṃ sasphuro daitya dṛśyate| kumāre proktavatyevaṃ daityaścikṣepa mudgaraṃ195| kumārastaṃ nirāsograṃ cakreṇāmoghavarcasā| tataścikṣepa daityeṃdro bhiṃdipālamayomayaṃ196| kareṇa taṃ ca jagrāha kārtikeyomarārihā| gadāṃ mumoca daityāya samutthāya kharasvanām197| tayā hatastato daityaścakampecalarāḍiva| mene ca durjayaṃ daityastadābālaṃ suduḥsahaṃ198| ciṃtayāmāsa buddhyā vai prāptaḥ kālo na saṃśayaḥ| kaṃpitaṃ ca samālokya kālanemi purogamāḥ199| sarve detyaiśvarā jaghnuḥ kumāraṃ raṇadāruṇaṃ| sa taiḥ prahārairaspṛṣṭastathā klaiśairmahādyutiḥ1.44.200| sa bālo balibhirvegairayudhyaddānavai raṇe| raṇaśauṇḍāśca daityeṃdrā puḥnarjaghnuḥ śilīmukhaiḥ201| kumāraṃ samare daityā balino devakaṃṭakāḥ| kumārasya vyathā nābhūddaityāstranihatasya tu202| prāṇāṃtakaraṇaṃ jātaṃ devānāṃ dānavā havaṃ| devānnipīḍitāndṛṣṭvā kumāraḥ kopamāviśat203| tatostrairdārayāmāsa dānāvānāmanīkinīm| tairastrairniṣpratīkāraistāḍitāssurakaṃṭakāḥ204| kālanemimukhāḥ sarve raṇe hyāsanparāṅmukhāḥ| vidruteṣu ca daityeṣu prahateṣu samaṃtataḥ205| kinnarodgāragītaiśca hāsyasanyastacetanaḥ| jaghne kumāraṃ gadayā niṣṭaptakanakatviṣā206| śarairmayūraṃ citraiśca cakāra vimukhaṃ raṇe| dṛṣṭvā parāḍmukho devo muktaraktaṃ svavāhanam207| jagrāha śaktiṃ vimalāṃ raṇe kanakabhūṣaṇām| bāhunā hemakeyūra rucireṇa ṣaḍānanaḥ208| tatobravīnmahāsenastārakaṃ dānavādhipam| tiṣṭhatiṣṭha sudurbuddhe yamalokaṃ vilokaya209| hato hyasi mayā śaktyā smara svaṃ daityaceṣṭitam| ityuktvā tu tataḥ śaktiṃ mumoca ditijaṃ prati210| sā kumārabhujotsṛṣṭā tatkeyūraravānugā| bibheda daityahṛdayaṃ vajraśaileṃdrakarkaśam211| gatāsuḥ sa papātorvyāṃ pralaye bhūdharo yathā| vikīrṇamakuṭoṣṇīṣo visrastākhilabhūṣaṇaḥ212| tasminvinihate daitye dānavānāṃ dhuraṃdhare| nābhūtkaścittadā duḥkhī narakeṣvapi pāpakṛt213| stuvaṃtaḥ ṣaṇmukhaṃ devāḥ prākrīḍannāgatasmitāḥ| jagmuḥ svāneva bhuvanānnirasyāsaṃstathotsukāḥ214| daduścāpi varaṃ sarve devāśca ṣaṇmukhaṃ prati| tuṣṭāḥ saṃprāptasarvārthāssahasiddhaistapodhanaiḥ215| devā ūcuḥ| yaḥ paṭhetskaṃdasaṃbaṃdhāṃ kathāmetāṃ mahāmatiḥ| śṛṇuyācchrāvayedvāpi sa bhavetkīrtimānnaraḥ216| bahvāyuḥ subhagaḥ śrīmānkīrtimānśubhadarśanaḥ| bhūtebhyo nirbhayaścāpi sarvaduḥkhavivarjitaḥ217| saṃdhyāmupāsya yaḥ pūrvāṃ skaṃdasya caritaṃ paṭhet| sa yuktaḥ kinnaraiḥ sarvairmahādhanapatirbhavet218|
English translation
Śarva (i.e. Śiva) said :
1-2. O you of slender body, joined with my white body, you will shine like a black female-serpent clung to a white sandal tree or like night covered with reddish garment touched by moonlight.
3. Thus addressed by him, the Mountain’s daughter, with her eyes red due to anger, and her face changed due to (the knitting of) the eye-brows, loudly spoke.
The goddess said :
4-5. Every person grieves due to the foolish acts done by him; O you, having the moon as your decoration, a suppliant certainly meets with a rebuff. You are certainly, at every step, insulting me, who sought you by means of penance practised for a long time.
6. O Śarva , I am not crooked, nor am I, O Dhūrjaṭī, rough. (On the contrary) you are known in the world to be possessing poison and a shelter to the mines of faults (i.e. those who commit faults).
7. You snatched away the teeth (of Pūṣan ) and destroyed Bhaga ’s eyes. [1] The twelve-fold Sun knows you well.
8. Insulting me by (pointing out my) defects, you are causing headache to me. You who called me ‘black’, are well known to be very black ( Mahākāla ).
9-10. I shall go to a mountain to give up my life through penance. Humiliated by a rogue (like you)—a mean skull-carrier, always living in a crematory, with your body smeared with ashes, and moving among the divine mothers [2] —I do not want to live.
11. Hearing her words, harsh due to anger, Hara , confused by this unwelcome (reply) and with the moon on his head shaking, said:
Śarva said :
12. O Girijā, you are the daughter of a Mountain; I do not mean to find fault with you. With a desire to utter flattering words, I resorted to this (apparent) madness.
13-14. O Mountain’s daughter, in the regular course there is (really) no suspicion (about you) in my firm heart. O you timid one, if you are angry like this, I shall not speak in joke to you. O you of bright smile, give up your anger. I, bowing my head, have joined my palms in obeisance to you.
15. (Only) a low person gets excited by an insult or a censure. Indeed a man (would) not (use) poignant (words) towards the bad or the good.
16-17. The goddess, struck to the core, (though) advised by the god with many sweet words, did not give up her severe anger. The Mountain’s daughter, pulling off her garment clasped by Śaṅkara with his hand, and with her hair dishevelled, desired to go at once.
18-19. When she was (thus) going angrily, the destroyer of Tripura again spoke: “Really with all your limbs you behave like your father. Your mind is overpowered with turbidness like the mass of clouds on the peak of the Himālaya mountain. Your heart is unfathomable like that mountain.
20-22a. (You have received) hardness from (things) like stones, and thickness from the thickets; (you have taken) crookedness from rivers, and are difficult to be employed like snow. All this has been transferred to you from the Himālaya mountain, O you of slender body.” Thus addressed, the Mountain’s daughter, with her head trembling through anger, and her lips throbbing, spoke again.
Umā said :
22b-24. By blaming and censuring a virtuous person strongly one might get everything. Due to your contact with the wicked, every (bad) thing has been transferred to you: From serpents you have received many tongues (i.e. saying contradictory things); from the ashes you have got want of oiliness (i.e. affections); the wickedness of your heart has sprung up from the moon, and severe torment from poison. What is the use of prolixity in this matter? Enough of exerting myself in talking about you.
25. You are fearless on account of your stay in the crematory; you have no sense of shame because you are naked your cruelty is due to your being a skull-holder; compassion has left you long back.
26. Saying so the daughter of the Himālaya mountain went out of that dwelling. When she was leaving the attendants (of Śiva ) made a sound (i.e. cried in grief).
27. “O mother, where are you going?” Saying so, they, weeping, again ran to her. Vīraka , clasping the feet of the goddess, said with a voice faltering due to tears:
28. “O mother, what indeed is this? Afflicted and angry, where are you going? I shall follow you going without any affection.
29. Otherwise, I, abandoned by you, will fall (i.e. throw myself down) from the peak of this mountain.”
30-31. The goddess, the mother, raising his face with her right hand said: “O son, do not grieve. It is not proper for you either to fall from the mountain-top or to accompany me; O son, hear about the undertaking for which I am going. Hara addressed me as ‘ Kṛṣṇā ’ (i.e. black); he suppressed and insulted me.
32-33. That I (i.e. I who was treated like this) shall practise penance by which I shall have fair complexion. This god is lustful; after I leave you have to keep guard at the door and always be watchful about the weak point so that no woman will approach Hara.
34. O son, when you see another woman, inform me; then I shall quickly do what is proper.”
35-36a. Vīraka said to the great goddess: “Let it be so”. With his body sprinkled with the food of nectar in the form of his mother’s command, and with his affliction removed, he, having saluted his mother, went to look after the guard.
36b-38a. The goddess also saw her mother’s friend, the deity of the mountain, Kusumāmohinī by name, who was well-adorned, coming (to her). That deity too, seeing the Mountain’s daughter, and with her mind overcome with affection, embraced her (i.e. Umā) and said aloud: “O daughter, where are you going?”
38b-39a. She (i.e. Umā) told her all that that caused her anger due to Śiva’s (humiliating her). The Mountain’s daughter again spoke to her, who was like her mother.
Umā said :
39b-41. You are for ever the mountain’s deity, O you, who are never censured (i.e. who are praiseworthy). Your presence is everywhere. At heart you are very affectionate. Therefore, O mother, I shall tell you what should be done by you. With great care you have to s top the entry of another woman (into Śiva’s mansion). Secretly and with care you have always to wait upon him on the mountain.
42-44. O you sinless one, you should inform me if some other woman enters Śiva’s (mansion); then I shall do what is proper.” The auspicious (deity) thus addressed, said, “All right” and went to the (Himālaya) mountain. Umā, the Mountain’s daughter too, went to her father’s wonderful garden, that had entered the sky and the brightness of which was darkened by the row of clouds. Then she cast off her ornaments and put on the garments of the barks of trees.
45-46a. In the summer she was tormented by five fires. [3] In the rainy season she remained in water. She subsisted on food growing in forest; (sometimes) she did not eat anything; she lay on dry heap of clods. Thus she settled there practising penance.
46b-48. In the meanwhile, coming to know that the Mountain’s daughter had left, the demon, Āḍi by name, the son of Andhaka , was delighted. Remembering his father’s murder, he, the brother of Baka , and mighty in battles, the enemy of (Śiva) the destroyer of Tripura, always observing the weak point of the god with crescent-moon on his head, came to the city (of Śiva) after having conquered all gods in a battle.
49. Having come there he saw Vīraka stationed at the door. He also thought about the boon given by the Lotus-born (god, i.e. Brahmā ).
50-52a. When the demon Andhaka was killed by Śiva, the enemy of the demon, Āḍi practised a very severe and ample penance. Brahmā, being fully pleased, came there and said: “O Āḍi, the greatest among the demons, what do you desire to obtain by means of penance?” The demon said (i.e. replied) to Brahmā: “I seek immortality”.
Brahmā said :
52b-53a. In this worldly existence, since it is not possible for those that are born to be without death, therefore, O lord of demons, those that are living shall meet with death.
53b-54. The mighty demon, thus addressed, said to the lotus-born (god): “O you Lotus-born (god), let death come to me when there is a change in my form; otherwise I shall remain immortal.”
55-58a. Thus addressed, the very mighty son of the demon (Andhaka), regarded himself as immortal. At that time not remembering (i.e. forgetting) the means of his murder, not being within the range of sight of Vīraka, the counter-striker, the fearful demon, difficult to conquer, entered (Śiva’s mansion) in the form of a serpent after avoiding the range of the sight of the lord of attendants.
58b-60a. Then the foolish great demon, giving up the serpents’ form, and entering another form unnoticed by the lord of the attendants, took the form of Umā to please Śiva.
60b-62. The demon, taking up a charming, unconceivable, illusory form, complete with all limbs, nourished (i.e. accomplished) with all signs of recognition, and keeping a strong adamantine tusk with a sharp point in the pudanum muliebre, was ready to strike Śiva through delusion. The sinful demon, taking up the charming form of Umā, and having put on variegated ornaments and garments, approached Śiva.
63-65. Seeing him, and taking him to be Umā having all limbs (i.e. complete in all limbs), Giriśa became glad, and having embraced asked her (i.e. said to her): “O Mountain’s daughter, since you, of an excellent complexion have come here after knowing my intention (I think) your devotion (to me) is natural and not artificial. My abode, the three worlds, are a void to me without you.
66-67a. O you of a pleasing face, you have come here. Such (a gesture) is (quite) proper for you!” The lord of demons, thus addressed, gently spoke to him with a smile; he too had recognized the destroyer of Tripura by means of signs of recognition, and (then) spoke to him (i.e. Śiva).
The demon said :
67b-68a. I had gone to the Himālaya mountain, with a desire to (practise) penance to obtain a boon. I was not happy there; therefore, I have (again) come to you.
68b-70a. Thus addressed, God Śiva, of a smiling face, entertaining a doubt in his mind, thought: ‘She was angry; is it that she, who is natural l y of a firm vow, has come back without having her desire fulfilled, knowing me to be angry (i.e. after having come to know that I am angry)?’
70b-72. Thinking thus and reflecting on her token of recognition, the lord did not see the sign of lotus caused by the eddy (i.e. lock) of hair on her left side. Then the Trident-holder knowing it to be illusion created by the demons, concealed the expression of his face, and taking the missile of penis-like tusk, kill ed the demon.
73-75a. Vīraka, the door-keeper, did not know this account. Kusumāmohinī, seeing that lord of demons in a feminine form, immediately informed the daughter of the Himālaya Mountain (of it) through the messenger in the form of Vāyu . Hearing it (i.e. the news) from Vāyu, her eyes red and turbid due to anger, she saw her son Vīraka with a painful heart.
The goddess said :
75b-77a. Since, abandoning me, your mother, overcome with affection you gave Śaṅkara an opportunity to have a private (sexual) affair with a woman, therefore I curse you that a dull, heartless stone resembling the form of the lord of attendants will be your mother in the human world.
77b-78a. This apparent cause about Vīraka’s (birth) is well-known, through respect for the son (?) This is known to be the doubtful peculiar statement about Vīraka’s birth and course (of conduct).
78b-79a. When thus the Mountain’s daughter had pronounced a curse, very mighty wrath in the form of a lion went out of her mouth.
79b-80. The lion’s mouth was fearful. His neck had mane. He had raised his tail. The cavity of his face was furious on account of the fangs. His mouth was wide open; his tongue was long; he was thin in the waist and in the (other parts of his) body.
81-82. Then the goddess settled to remain in his mouth. Knowing her intention, the four-faced god (i.e. Brahmā), came to the hermitage, the receptacle of good fortune. The lord of gods, having arrived there, spoke to the Mountain’s daughter in dear words:
Brahmā said :
83. What do you want to have again? What is not obtainable to you? I shall give that to you. By my order desist from this penance causing great suffering.
84. The Mountain’s daughter, hearing the sire’s words, restrained with dignity and having the desirable expression of words spoken by him of an enticing speech, said:
The goddess said :
85-86. With a penance difficult to practise, I obtained Śiva as my husband. Many times he called me ‘dark-complexioned’ in private. Therefore let me have a complexion resembling gold and let me be connected with that name, and the body of my husband, the lord of beings, should be free from poison.
87. Hearing those words of (i.e. uttered by) her, the lord of the world said: “You be like this and also occupy half the portion of your husband’s body.”.
88-89a. Then she cast off that dark skin like a blooming blue lotus. That skin also turned into a fearful (goddess), having a bell in her hand, having three eyes, full of (i.e. having) many ornaments and wearing a yellow silken garment.
89b-93a. Then Brahmā said to that goddess having lustre like a blue lotus: “O Niśā (i.e. night), due to the contact with the body of the Mountain’s daughter, you have, through my order, done what was to be done. Now you are complete before (me). O you goddess of an excellent face, let the very mighty lion that rose from the anger of the goddess (viz. Umā) be your carrier. Let him also remain on your banner. Go to the Vindhya mountain; there you will carry out the mission of gods. O goddess, this Yakṣa , Pañcāla by name, and followed by the steps of lakhs of Yakṣas and endowed with hundreds of tricks, is given as a servant to you by me.”
93b-95a. Goddess Kauṣikī, thus addressed, went to the Vindhya mountain. Umā too, who had fulfilled her desire went to Śiva; but Vīraka, who had held a golden staff, turned her away from the door and stopped her who was entering (Śiva’s mansion).
95b-100a. Angrily he said to her whose form was changed: “You have no business here; go (away) till you are not eaten up. A demon, taking up the form of goddess (Umā) had come to deceive the lord; he entered without being noticed (by me), and was killed by the lord. When he was killed, Śiva who was angry ordered me: 'Since you are not attentive at the door (since you are not attentively guarding the door), you will not be my doorkeeper for many multitudes of years.’ Therefore, I am not allowing you to enter here; leave quickly. O you lotuseyed one, except my mother, the affectionate daughter of the Mountain, none else will get an entry here.”
100b-102. Thus addressed, the goddess then thought to herself: ‘The one of whom Vāyu informed me was that demon, and not a woman. In vain did I, overcome with grief, curse Vīraka. Generally fools, full of anger, do what ought not to be done. Fame perishes on account of anger; anger destroys steady prosperity.
103. I, without properly ascertaining the truth, cursed my son. Calamities easily come to those whose intellect is perverse.’
104. The face of the Mountain’s daughter thinking like this, which had lotus-like lustre, changed due to the sense of shame.
The goddess said :
105-108. O Vīraka, I am your mother; let there be no confusion in your mind. I am the beloved of Śiva, and the daughter of the Himalaya mountain. O son, do not entertain a doubt because of the change in the complexion of my body. This fairness (in my complexion) is granted to me by the Lotus-born one, who was pleased. Coming to know about the entry of a woman when Śaṅkara remained in a lonely place, and not knowing the account of the demon, I cursed you. It is not possible to withdraw the curse; but I tell you that you will soon come back from the human world, after having satisfied all your desires.
109. Having saluted, with all his heart, the chaste (lady), his mother, and the daughter of the Himālaya mountain, having the lustre of the full moon, bowing down his head, he said:
Vīraka said :
110. O you (goddess), having toes the fearful nails of which have excellent charm due to the shining gems on the heads of the gods and demons bending (before you), O you Mountain’s daughter, O you who are affectionate to those who seek your shelter, O you who destroy (i.e. remove) the affliction of those who bow down to you, my salutations to you.
111. O you whose neck is adorned with the ring of suns, O you who snatch away the lustre of the expansive golden mountain, O you daughter of the (Himālaya) Mountain, I, frightened by the crookedly moving serpents, resort to you.
112. Who else, but you, has, in this world, quickly given success as desired by one who bends before (the deity)? In the world, to whom but you would Śaṅkara, the sustainer of the worlds, salute and (to whom would) the sages (bow)?
113. O you difficult to conquer and born at an auspicious combination of stars, you are coiled with the fine body of the great lord; you are joined with him who crushed the relatives of Andhaka; you were first praised by the best of gods.
114-115. You have your neck raised to the white mass of matted hair (of Śiva); you sit on the impetuous great lion. You are described as Caṇḍikā by the worlds; O mother, you are the destroyer of Śumbha and Niṣumbha; be the giver of what is desired by one who has bowed down to you. On the earth you have vigorously shown the only interest in putting down the demons.
116. O you unvanquished, matchless goddess, O you who
created the worlds, O you who are dear to Śiva, I salute that body (i.e. form) of you which is (seen) in the sky, the path of the wind, on the earth overcome with fire.
117. The oceans, with their waves sportively rising, the fire, that has consumed, with its brilliance, the mobile and the immobile, the serpents having thousands of hoods—you will set these forth as not causing fear to me.
118. O you revered (goddess), you are the resort of firm devotees; I have come to seek the shelter of your feet. Let all my senses be, today, the abode of the pleasurable experiences of your playful activities.
119. Then the goddess, the Mountain’s daughter, pleased when thus praised by Vīraka entered the auspicious mansion of her husband.
120. Vīraka too, remaining at the door, respectfully sent home the gods who had desired to see śiva.
121. “O gods, there is no opportunity (for you to see Śiva). Vṛṣākapi (i.e. Śiva) is sporting in private with the goddess.”
122. Thus addressed, they went as they had come. When a thousand years passed, gods with swift minds (i.e. thoughts), urged Agni to find out the movements of Śiva.
123. Hutāśana (i.e. Agni), taking the form of a parrot, entered (Śiva’s chamber) through the hole meant for birds, and saw all (the love-sport of Śiva) with the Mountain’s daughter on their bed.
124. The lord of gods also saw Agni who had taken the form of a parrot. To him, the great god, who was a little angry said:
Śiva said :
125-126a. O you Agni, who have taken up the form of a parrot, I have deposited half (the portion of my) semen into the goddess (Umā). Through sense of shame its (flow) has stopped. You (now) drink the (remaining) half. It is proper for you (to drink it) since the obstacle was due to (i.e. caused by) you.
l26b-129a. Thus addressed Agni drank the semen deposited (by Śiva). Since gods have Agni as their mouths, they were flooded with that (semen). Then that semen of the great god (Śiva), which resembled heated gold, having torn asunder their bellies, came out (and spread) in the extensive hermitage (i.e. dwelling) of Śiva. There a great, pure lake came up. It (spread over) many yojanas ; it had blooming golden lotuses and it resounded with the notes of many birds.
129b-130a. Goddess (Umā) having come to know that that lake with big golden lotuses had come up, being full of curiosity, went to that lake of golden lotuses.
130b-J3la. Having sported in its water, and having put a chaplet of its lotuses on her head, she sat, surrounded by her friends, on its bank.
131b-132. Desiring to drink its water, sweet and with spotless lotuses, she saw six Kṛttikās [4] , resembling the lustre of the sun, who had proceeded home, after having taken its water in (a cup made of) a lotus-leaf.
133a. Through joy she said: “I shall drink the water remaining (i.e. put) in (the cup of) the lotus-leaf.”
133b. Then the Kṛittikās said to the daughter of the Himālaya mountain.
Kṛttikās said :
134-135a. We shall give you (the water), O dear lady (if) the son that would be born in (i.e. from) your womb will be an active son of ours, well-known in all the three worlds, O you of an auspicious face.
135b-136a. Thus addressed, the Mountain’s daughter said: “How is it that the son with all his limbs generated from my limbs, will be a son (born) from (i.e. of) you?”
136b-137a. Then the Kṛttikās said to her: “If this (i.e. what we say) will take place (i.e. be accepted by you) then we shall place best heads (on the body—the trunk—of the boy)”.
137b. Thus told, the Mountain’s daughter said: “O you blameless ones, let it be so.”
138. Then, full of joy, they gave her the water (put) in (the cup made of) a lotus-leaf. She too gradually drank that water.
139-140. The moment the water was drunk (by her), an excellent, wonderful boy, removing diseases and griefs, rising from the right side of the goddess, after having torn it, came out. The lord resembled the heap of a variety of the masses of the sun’s rays.
141. Having taken a spotless spear, a spike and a goad, he, the fire of a golden colour, rose to kill the demons.
142. For this reason only he too became (i.e. came to be called) Kumāra . The child again came out by tearing the left side of the goddess.
143. (He was) also (called) Skanda on account of his having come from Agni’s bright mouth (where Śiva’s semen was deposited). The killer of enemies was also called Ṣaḍvadana (i.e. having six faces). He was born from the water given by the Kṛttikās, particularly with (many) hands.
144. Hands are said to be auspicious. They extended over his six faces. Therefore Ṣaṇmukha (i.e. the six-faced one) came to be called as Viśākha in the world.
145-147a. He is (thus) known as Skanda, Viśākha, Ṣaḍvaktra and Kārttikeya . The two, resembling the sun, were born (from the two sides of Umā) on the fifteenth day of the dark half of Caitra , in the extensive thicket of canes. These two i.e. Agni and Vāyu joined them into one for the good (of the world) on the evening of the fifth day of the bright half (of Vaiśākha ).
147b-149. On the same sixth day, the six-faced lord i.e. Guha (or Kārttikeya) was consecrated with due rite (as the general of the Gods’ army) by all the hosts of gods including Brahmā, Upendra , Indra and Bhāskara (i.e. the Sun) with sandal, flowers, auspicious incense, and also with toys, umbrellas, group of chowries, ornaments and unguents.
150-154a. Indra gave him as his wife his (own) daughter known as Devasenā . The lord of gods, Viṣṇu , also gave him a weapon. The lord of wealth (i.e. Kubera ) gave him ten lakh Yakṣas. Agni gave him lustre and Vāyu gave him a vehicle. Tvaṣṭṛ gave him a toy, viz. a cock changing form at will. Thus all the gods, with their minds pleased, gave an endless retinue to Skanda, resembling the sun in lustre. The hosts of gods, the principal gods, having knelt on the ground, praised Saṇmukha with the (following) hymn of praise:
The gods said :
154b-156a. (Our) salutation to Kumāra of a great lustre; to Skanda who destroyed the demons. O you whose prowess is like the orb of the new (i.e. morning) sun, (our) salutation to you, Guhya (the secret one) and Guha. (Our) salutation to you who remove the fear of the worlds; to you who are given to (doing) favour to the people. (Our) salutation to you having large and lotus-like eyes; (our) salutation to Viśākha of a great vow.
156b-157. (Our) salutation to you who are fearful in the battle; (our) salutation to you having a bright vehicle, viz. the peacock. (Our) salutation to you who wear the armlets, to you who hold aloft a banner. (Our) salutation to you, who are saluted due to your prowess; our salutation to the holder of the bell having courage.
Kumāra said :
158. Being reposed, tell me which desire of you should I give (i.e. satisfy). A deed, which you have thought of for a long time, must be done even if it is not easily accomplished.
159. Thus addressed by him, all the gods, with their minds delighted, and with their heads bent down, spoke to the magnanimous Guha:
160. “The lord of the demons by name Tāraka would destroy the entire race of gods; he is mighty, difficult to conquer, sharp, of wicked deeds and very wrathful.
161-163a. Just kill that fearful demon, destroyer of all. The remaining part of the undertaking which causes fear to us is: Hiraṇyakaśipu , who is fierce, cannot be killed by the hosts of gods. He destroys the sacrifices, his deeds are sinful and he has tormented even Brahmā. Conquer these two. You (alone) have that great might.”
163b-164. Thus addressed, he, who was followed by all gods, and he, the lord of the world, who was praised by lords of gods, said ‘All right’ and proceeded to kill Tāraka, the fellow troubling the worlds.
165-166a. Then Indra, resorting to secret (strategy) sent a messenger, saying harsh words, to the lord of demons. He, being fearless, went to the demon of a fearful appearance, and said to him:
The messenger said :
166b-168a. O demon, Indra, the lord of gods and of heaven says to you: “O demon Tāraka, encounter his might as you please. I am the king in the three worlds, who will destroy the sin that you have committed and that is blazing like a fire to the world.”
168b-169a. Hearing these amazing words, the wicked demon, with his eyes red due to wrath, and with his might almost vanished, said to the messenger:
Tāraka said :
169b-170a. O Śakra , in a great war your power has been observed (by us) a hundred times. O Indra, of a wicked mind, you have no peace because of your shamelessness.
170b-1 71. When the messenger, who was told like this, had left, the demon thought: ‘Indra, without having received a support, would not talk like this. From the fact that Śakra has a support it is known that Skanda is born.’
172-174. Then he saw a number of evil omens indicating (his) destruction. (He saw) shower of dust and fall of blood from the sky to the earth. He mentally saw (i.e. he thought) that his left eye was throbbing, and his mouth was parching. He also saw that the lotus-like faces of his kinsmen were fading. He also saw wicked and terrible beings talking ill. Without even bringing it before his mind, the son of Diti became dejected in a moment.
175-179a. For the demon, remaining in his palace saw the army of the residents of heaven (i.e. the gods), which was terrible on account of the deep sounds of the troops of elephants, which was adorned with the energetic neighing of the groups of horses, which was shining with divisions and lofty excellent flags, which was shining with aeroplanes of wonderful shapes and moving chowries, which had put on ornaments, which was resounding with the loud singing of Kinnaras , which had worn many chaplets of full-blown flowers of the desire-yielding trees, which looked bright due to the large shields and the missiles causing great grief, which was bright due to being nourished by lightning, and which was resounding with many musical instruments.
179b-180a. With his mind a little confused, he thought: ‘This must be an extraordinary warrior who has not been vanquished by me.’
180b-c. Then the demon, overcome with anxiety, heard these words, fearful to the heart, and containing harsh syllables, loudly proclaimed by the semi-divine bards:
181. “Be victorious, O you of matchless power, O you aviary of rays, O you stronger with mighty arms, O you, who quickly cause to bloom the face-lotuses of the gods, O you of playful eyes, O you excellent youth.
182. Be victorious, O you submarine fire to the great ocean of the family of the demons, O you having a charming chariot of a peacock, O you whose sprout-like nails have been bent by the tips of the crowns of gods (when they salute you), you commander of a great army.
183-184. Be victorious, O you whose charming mass of hair is unsteady, O you, who are charming like a fresh, spotless, lotus-stalk, O you, who are the unbearable wild fire to the family (also, bamboos in the form of the members) of the lord of demons. Be victorious, O Viśākha, O lord; be victorious, O you destroyer of the foremost sons of Diti (i.e. the demons) in all the worlds, O Skanda”.
185. Hearing all this proclaimed by the bards of gods, Tāraka remembered the words of Brahmā (which indicated) that his death was imminent.
186. Remembering them, he, the destroyer of a stream of good deeds, always followed by warriors, with his mind stricken with grief, quickly went out of his mansion.
187. Demons led by Kālanemi , being frightened, and with their minds confused and disconcerted with hurry then (remained) in their own houses.
188-190a. Hiraṇyakaśipu, the leader of the demons, said: “Running away from this child would be shameful to me. If I go to (i.e. attack) him, he too is supported by glory (i.e. is powerful); and if I kill this child, I shall unnecessarily be (looked upon as) ‘unfit for touch’. Come, run, seize, bring together the army.”
190b-192a. On seeing Kumāra (i.e. Kārttikeya), Tāraka, (the demon) of a fierce figure said: “O boy, why do you want to fight? Play with a ball, since you have been set free in the sun, O you good fighter and speaker; and your mind is like this—seeing only insignificant things—because of your being a child.”
192b-195a. Kumāra too, spoke to him who was most glad: “O Tāraka, listen, the meaning of sacred precepts is being explained here only. Ends are not seen (i.e. cannot be gained) on the battle-field which is excessively fearful. Do not belittle my childhood. A child is a troublesome serpent. As the young sun is difficult to look at, I am a child difficult to be conquered. O demon, is a magic formula, having few syllables, not seen to be throbbing (i.e. powerful)?”
195b-197. When Kumāra was thus speaking, the demon hurled his mallet. Kumāra destroyed it with his disc of unfailing power. Then the lord of demons threw an iron javeline. Kārttikeya, the killer of the enemies of gods, seized it with his hand. Getting up he cast a mace, making a sharp sound, at the demon.
198. The demon, struck by it, shook like a lofty moving mountain. Then the demon found the boy to be invincible and irresistible.
199-200a. He thought in his mind (i.e. to himself) that his death had undoubtedly come near. Seeing (the demon) shaking, all the lordly demons, led by Kālanemi, struck Kumāra, fierce in battle.
200b-201. (Though) hit by those strokes and troubled by the mighty (demons), that boy of great lustre fought with them with great speed in the battle. The lordly mighty demons, skilled in fighting, and a nuisance to the gods, again struck Kumāra with arrows.
202-203. Though struck by the missiles of the demons, Kumāra did not have any pain. The fight with the demons proved to be fatal to the gods. Seeing the gods harassed (by demons) Kumāra became angry.
204. Then he tore asunder, with missiles, the army of the demons. The (demons) troubling the gods, were struck with the missiles which could not be repulsed.
205-206. All (demons) led by Kālanemi, remained with their faces turned away from the battle. When the demons, that were struck ran helter-skelter on all sides, he, with his mind fixed in laughter (i.e. being very much rejoiced) by the loud songs of Kinnaras, struck Kumāra with a mace shining like heated gold.
207-208. He made him turn away from the battle (by) discharging various arrows. The god Kumāra, who had turned away his face from the battle, seeing his own vehicle (i.e. the peacock) bleeding, took a spotless missile, adorned with gold, with (i.e. in) his hand, shining with a golden armlet.
209-210a. Then Mahāsena (i.e. Kārttikeya) spoke to Tāraka, the lord of the demons: “O you of a wicked mind, stop, stop; you (will) see the world of Yama . O demon, you are (now) killed by me with (my) missile; (now) remember your (evil) deeds.”
210b-211. Saying so, he discharged his missile towards the demon. That (missile) discharged by the hand of Kumāra and imitating the sound of his armlet, broke (i.e. pierced) the heart of the demon who was like the thunderbolt or a lordly mountain.
212. With his crown and turban dishevelled, and with all his ornaments slipped off, he fell dead on the ground like a mountain at the time of universal destruction.
213. When that demon, the leader of the demons, was killed, nobody—not even a sinner in hell—was sorry.
214-215. Gods, with smile (on their faces) praised Kumāra, and amused themselves. Being eager they went to their respective abodes, leaving their seats. All gods, being pleased, as they had accomplished all their ends, with Siddhas , the treasures of penance, gave a boon to Kumāra.
Gods said :
216-218. That man of great intellect, who recites this story about Skanda or who listens to it or causes others to listen to it (i.e. tells it to others), will be famous. He will have a long life, he will be fortunate, wealthy, famous, handsome, and will have no fear from beings and will be free from trouble. He, who, having offered the first (i.e. morning) prayer, recites the account of Skanda, will be united with Kinnaras and be the lord of great wealth.
[1]: [1] : Bhagasya netrahantā—At the time of the destruction of Dakṣa’s sacrifice, Śiva knocked out Pūṣan’s teeth and destroyed Bhaga’s eyes. See 33.156 above.
[2]: [2] : Mātṛ—An epithet of the divine mothers, said to attend on Śiva, but usually on Skanda. They are generally said to be eight; but according to some they are seven; some increase the number to sixteen.
[3]: [3] : Pañcāgni—See note on 41.82 above.
[4]: [4] : Kṛttikā—The six stars represented as nymphs acting as nurses to Kārttikeya.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 35961, revision 334535 (2022-04-05T10:59:46Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc364167.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.