Critical Edition
देवा ऊचुः असुरस्तारको नाम त्वया दत्तवरः प्रभो सुरानृषींश्च क्लिश्नाति वधस्तस्य विधीयताम्
M. N. Dutt: The Deities said The Asura named Taraka who has received boons from you, O powerful one, is assailing the celestials and the Rishis. Let his death be ordained by you.
तस्माद्भयं समुत्पन्नमस्माकं वै पितामह परित्रायस्व नो देव न ह्यन्या गतिरस्ति नः
M. N. Dutt: O Grandfather, we fear him greatly. O illustrious one, do you save us! We have no other refuge than you.
ब्रह्मोवाच समोऽहं सर्वभूतानामधर्मं नेह रोचये हन्यतां तारकः क्षिप्रं सुरर्षिगणबाधकः
M. N. Dutt: Brahman said I treat all creatures equally, I cannot however, approve of sin, Let Taraka, that enemy of the celestials and Rishis, be speedily destroyed.
वेदा धर्माश्च नोत्सादं गच्छेयुः सुरसत्तमाः विहितं पूर्वमेवात्र मया वै व्येतु वो ज्वरः
M. N. Dutt: The Vedas and the eternal duties shall not be rooted out, you foremost of celestials, I have ordained what is proper, in this matter. Let the anxiety of your hearts be removed.
देवा ऊचुः वरदानाद्भगवतो दैतेयो बलगर्वितः देवैर्न शक्यते हन्तुं स कथं प्रशमं व्रजेत्
M. N. Dutt: The Celestials said For your having granted him boons, that son of Diti has been proud of his power. He is incapable of being killed by the deities. How then will his death be engendered?
स हि नैव स्म देवानां नासुराणां न रक्षसाम् वध्यः स्यामिति जग्राह वरं त्वत्तः पितामह
M. N. Dutt: The boon which, O Grandfather, he has obtained from you is that he should not be killed by celestials or Asuras or Rakshasas.
देवाश्च शप्ता रुद्राण्या प्रजोच्छेदे पुरा कृते न भविष्यति वोऽपत्यमिति सर्वजगत्पते
M. N. Dutt: The celestials have also been cursed by the wife of Rudra on account of their attempt of step propagation. The curse imprecated by her has been, O lord of the universe, this viz., that they are not to have any offspring.
ब्रह्मोवाच हुताशनो न तत्रासीच्छापकाले सुरोत्तमाः स उत्पादयितापत्यं वधार्थं त्रिदशद्विषाम्
AI Translation: Brahma said: O best of the gods, at the time of the curse, Agni was not there. He, the creator, for the sake of killing the enemies of the gods, produced a son.
तद्वै सर्वानतिक्रम्य देवदानवराक्षसान् मानुषानथ गन्धर्वान्नागानथ च पक्षिणः
AI Translation: It is the one that all the gods, demons, rākṣasas, humans, gandharvas, nāgas, and birds cannot transgress.
अस्त्रेणामोघपातेन शक्त्या तं घातयिष्यति यतो वो भयमुत्पन्नं ये चान्ये सुरशत्रवः
AI Translation: With the weapon Amoghāpāta, he will slay him. From where fear has arisen for you, and for others who are enemies of the gods,
सनातनो हि संकल्पः काम इत्यभिधीयते रुद्रस्य तेजः प्रस्कन्नमग्नौ निपतितं च तत्
M. N. Dutt: Will is eternal. That Will is known by the name of Kama and is at one with Rudra's seed a portion of which fell into the burning form of Agni.
तत्तेजोऽग्निर्महद्भूतं द्वितीयमिव पावकम् वधार्थं देवशत्रूणां गङ्गायां जनयिष्यति
M. N. Dutt: That energy, which is a powerful substance, and which resembles a second Agni, will be cast by Agni into Ganga for producing a child upon her in order to bring about the destruction of the enemies of the gods.
स तु नावाप तं शापं नष्टः स हुतभुक्तदा तस्माद्वो भयहृद्देवाः समुत्पत्स्यति पावकिः
M. N. Dutt: Agni did not come within the range of Uma's curse. The eater of sacrificial libations was not present there when the curse was imprecated.
अन्विष्यतां वै ज्वलनस्तथा चाद्य नियुज्यताम् तारकस्य वधोपायः कथितो वै मयानघाः
M. N. Dutt: Let the god of fire, therefore, be searched out. Let him now be set to this task. You sinless ones, I have told you the means for the destruction of Taraka.
न हि तेजस्विनां शापास्तेजःसु प्रभवन्ति वै बलान्यतिबलं प्राप्य नबलानि भवन्ति वै
M. N. Dutt: The curses of the energetic cannot produce any effect upon the energetic. Forces, when they come into contact with a stronger force, become weakened.
हन्यादवध्यान्वरदानपि चैव तपस्विनः संकल्पाभिरुचिः कामः सनातनतमोऽनलः
M. N. Dutt: They who are endued with penances can destroy even the boongiving deities who are indestructible. Will, or Like, or Desire sprang in former times and is the most eternal of all creatures.
जगत्पतिरनिर्देश्यः सर्वगः सर्वभावनः हृच्छयः सर्वभूतानां ज्येष्ठो रुद्रादपि प्रभुः
M. N. Dutt: Agni is the Lord of the universe. He is incapable of being apprehended or described. Capable of going every where and present in all things he is the Creator of all beings. He lives in the hearts of all creatures, Gifted with great power, He is older than Rudra himself.
अन्विष्यतां स तु क्षिप्रं तेजोराशिर्हुताशनः स वो मनोगतं कामं देवः संपादयिष्यति
AI Translation: Search for that mass of energy, the fire. That god will fulfill your desire.
एतद्वाक्यमुपश्रुत्य ततो देवा महात्मनः जग्मुः संसिद्धसंकल्पाः पर्येषन्तो विभावसुम्
AI Translation: Hearing these words, the great-souled gods went in search of Vibhāvasu, their resolve accomplished.
ततस्त्रैलोक्यमृषयो व्यचिन्वन्त सुरैः सह काङ्क्षन्तो दर्शनं वह्नेः सर्वे तद्गतमानसाः
M. N. Dutt: The gods and the Rishis then searched every portion of the three worlds their hearts being busy with the thought of Agni and eagerly desiring to see him.
परेण तपसा युक्ताः श्रीमन्तो लोकविश्रुताः लोकानन्वचरन्सिद्धाः सर्व एव भृगूद्वह नष्टमात्मनि संलीनं नाधिजग्मुर्हुताशनम्
M. N. Dutt: Gifted with penances, of prosperity celebrated over all the worlds, those great ones, all crowned with ascetic success, sojourned over every part of the universe, O foremost one of Bhrigu's race.
ततः संजातसंत्रासानग्नेर्दर्शनलालसान् जलेचरः क्लान्तमनास्तेजसाग्नेः प्रदीपितः उवाच देवान्मण्डूको रसातलतलोत्थितः
AI Translation: Then, frightened and eager to see the fire, the aquatic creature, exhausted in mind, ignited by the fire's brilliance, arose from the bottom of the ocean and spoke to the gods:
रसातलतले देवा वसत्यग्निरिति प्रभो संतापादिह संप्राप्तः पावकप्रभवादहम्
AI Translation: O Lord, the gods reside in the nether regions, and Agni resides in the nether regions. I have come here due to the heat, because of the fire's radiance.
स संसुप्तो जले देवा भगवान्हव्यवाहनः अपः संसृज्य तेजोभिस्तेन संतापिता वयम्
M. N. Dutt: The illustrious bearer of sacrificial offerings ye gods, is now under the waters. He has created a mass of waters within which he is living. All of us have been scorched by his energy.
तस्य दर्शनमिष्टं वो यदि देवा विभावसोः तत्रैनमभिगच्छध्वं कार्यं वो यदि वह्निना
M. N. Dutt: If, ye gods, you wish to see himif you have any business with him, go to him there.
गम्यतां साधयिष्यामो वयं ह्यग्निभयात्सुराः एतावदुक्त्वा मण्डूकस्त्वरितो जलमाविशत्
M. N. Dutt: As regards ourselves, we shall fly from this place, O celestials, from fear of Agni! Having said this much, the frog dived into the water.
हुताशनस्तु बुबुधे मण्डूकस्याथ पैशुनम् शशाप स तमासाद्य न रसान्वेत्स्यसीति वै
M. N. Dutt: The eater of sacrificial libations came to know of the treachery of the frog. Coming to that animal, he cursed the whole race, saying, You will be deprived of the organ of taste.
तं स संयुज्य शापेन मण्डूकं पावको ययौ अन्यत्र वासाय विभुर्न च देवानदर्शयत्
M. N. Dutt: Having made this curse on the frog, he left spot immediately for living else, where. Indeed the powerful celestial did not show himself.
देवास्त्वनुग्रहं चक्रुर्मण्डूकानां भृगूद्वह यत्तच्छृणु महाबाहो गदतो मम सर्वशः
M. N. Dutt: Seeing the condition to which the frogs were reduced for having done them a service, the celestials o best of the Bhrigus, showed favour to those creatures. I shall tell you everything about it. Do you hear me, O mightyarmed hero.
देवा ऊचुः अग्निशापादजिह्वापि रसज्ञानबहिष्कृताः सरस्वतीं बहुविधां यूयमुच्चारयिष्यथ
M. N. Dutt: The Deities said Though deprived of tongues through the curse of Agni and, therefore of the sensation of taste, you will be able to utter various kinds of words.
बिलवासगतांश्चैव निरादानानचेतसः गतासूनपि वः शुष्कान्भूमिः संधारयिष्यति तमोगतायामपि च निशायां विचरिष्यथ
M. N. Dutt: Living within holes, deprived of food, shorn of consciousness, wasted and dried up, and more dead than alive, the Earth will yet hold you all.
इत्युक्त्वा तांस्ततो देवाः पुनरेव महीमिमाम् परीयुर्ज्वलनस्यार्थे न चाविन्दन्हुताशनम्
M. N. Dutt: You shall also be able to move about at nighttime when everything is covered with thick darkness! Having said this to the frogs, the celestials once more journeyed over every part of the Earth for finding out the god of fire. Despite all their endeavours however, they could not find him out.
अथ तान्द्विरदः कश्चित्सुरेन्द्रद्विरदोपमः अश्वत्थस्थोऽग्निरित्येवं प्राह देवान्भृगूद्वह
M. N. Dutt: Then, O perpetuator of Bhrigu's race, an elephant, as large and powerful as the elephant of Shakra addressed the gods, sayingAgni is now living within this Ashvattha tree!
शशाप ज्वलनः सर्वान्द्विरदान्क्रोधमूर्छितः प्रतीपा भवतां जिह्वा भवित्रीति भृगूद्वह
M. N. Dutt: Worked up with anger, Agni cursed all the elephants, O descendent of Bhrigu, sayingYour tongues will be bent back.
इत्युक्त्वा निःसृतोऽश्वत्थादग्निर्वारणसूचितः प्रविवेश शमीगर्भमथ वह्निः सुषुप्सया
M. N. Dutt: Having been pointed out by the elephants, the God of Fire cursed all elephants thus and then went away and entered the heart of the Shami tree for living within it for sometime.
Supplementary Passages:
13.84.35 D5.6.9 ins. after 35: D8 after 35ab: *392 विवेश कीचकानन्तः प्रविशन्नेव सूचितः ऊष्मायां चित्तलैर्वंशैस्तांस्त्यक्त्वा प्राविशच्छमीम्
अनुग्रहं तु नागानां यं चक्रुः शृणु तं प्रभो देवा भृगुकुलश्रेष्ठ प्रीताः सत्यपराक्रमाः
M. N. Dutt: Listen now, O powerful hero, what favour was shown to the elephants, O foremost one of Bhrigu's race; by the celestials of unbaffled prowess who were all pleased with the service one of their representatives had rendered them.
देवा ऊचुः प्रतीपया जिह्वयापि सर्वाहारान्करिष्यथ वाचं चोच्चारयिष्यध्वमुच्चैरव्यञ्जिताक्षरम् इत्युक्त्वा पुनरेवाग्निमनुसस्रुर्दिवौकसः
M. N. Dutt: The Deities said With the help of even your tongues bent inwards you shall be able to eat all things, and with even those tongues you shall be able to utter cries which will only be indistinct. Having blessed the elephants thus, the inhabitants of the celestial region once more began to search Agni.
अश्वत्थान्निःसृतश्चाग्निः शमीगर्भगतस्तदा शुकेन ख्यापितो विप्र तं देवाः समुपाद्रवन्
AI Translation: The fire that had emerged from the ashvattha tree, then entered the womb of the shami tree. O brahmin, it was proclaimed by the parrot, and the gods rushed towards it.
शशाप शुकमग्निस्तु वाग्विहीनो भविष्यसि जिह्वां चावर्तयामास तस्यापि हुतभुक्तदा
AI Translation: Agni cursed the parrot, saying, "You will become speechless." And the fire-god also twisted the tongue of that parrot.
दृष्ट्वा तु ज्वलनं देवाः शुकमूचुर्दयान्विताः भविता न त्वमत्यन्तं शकुने नष्टवागिति
AI Translation: Seeing the fire, the gods, full of compassion, said to the parrot: "You will not be completely destroyed, O parrot, for your speech is lost."
आवृत्तजिह्वस्य सतो वाक्यं कान्तं भविष्यति बालस्येव प्रवृद्धस्य कलमव्यक्तमद्भुतम्
AI Translation: The words of one whose tongue is turned back will be sweet. Like a child's, the indistinct and wonderful speech of one who has grown up.
Supplementary Passages:
13.84.41 D7-9 ins. after 41ab: D4 after 31cd: *393 क्रियमाणा च ते वाणी भविष्यति नरैर्भुवि
इत्युक्त्वा तं शमीगर्भे वह्निमालक्ष्य देवताः तदेवायतनं चक्रुः पुण्यं सर्वक्रियास्वपि
AI Translation: Having said this, the gods saw the fire in the heart of the śamī tree and made that very place a sacred place for all rites.
ततःप्रभृति चाप्यग्निः शमीगर्भेषु दृश्यते उत्पादने तथोपायमनुजग्मुश्च मानवाः
AI Translation: From that time on, fire is seen in the womb of the śamī tree. And the people followed the means of production.
आपो रसातले यास्तु संसृष्टाश्चित्रभानुना ताः पर्वतप्रस्रवणैरूष्मां मुञ्चन्ति भार्गव पावकेनाधिशयता संतप्तास्तस्य तेजसा
M. N. Dutt: Those heated waters, O you of Bhrigu's race, are vomited forth by the mountain springs. On account, of Agni's having lived in them for sometime, they became hot through his power.
ततोऽग्निर्देवता दृष्ट्वा बभूव व्यथितस्तदा किमागमनमित्येवं तानपृच्छत पावकः
M. N. Dutt: Meanwhile Agni, seeing the gods, became grieved. Addressing the celestials, he asked them, Why have you come here?
तमूचुर्विबुधाः सर्वे ते चैव परमर्षयः त्वां नियोक्ष्यामहे कार्ये तद्भवान्कर्तुमर्हति कृते च तस्मिन्भविता तवापि सुमहान्गुणः
M. N. Dutt: To him the celestials and the great Rishis said, We wish to engage you in a particular work. You should perform it. When done, it will redound greatly to your credit.
अग्निरुवाच ब्रूत यद्भवतां कार्यं सर्वं कर्तास्मि तत्सुराः भवतां हि नियोज्योऽहं मा वोऽत्रास्तु विचारणा
M. N. Dutt: Agni said Tell me what your business is. I shall, O gods accomplish it. I am always willing to do anything for you. Do not, hesitate, therefore, to command me.
देवा ऊचुः असुरस्तारको नाम ब्रह्मणो वरदर्पितः अस्मान्प्रबाधते वीर्याद्वधस्तस्य विधीयताम्
M. N. Dutt: The celestials said There is an Asura of the name of Taraka who has been filled with pride on account of the boon he has obtained from Brahman. By his power he is able to oppose and discomfit us. Do you bring about his destruction.
इमान्देवगणांस्तात प्रजापतिगणांस्तथा ऋषींश्चापि महाभागान्परित्रायस्व पावक
M. N. Dutt: O sire, do you rescue these celestials, these Prajapatis, and these Rishis, O highly blessed Pavaka.
अपत्यं तेजसा युक्तं प्रवीरं जनय प्रभो यद्भयं नोऽसुरात्तस्मान्नाशयेद्धव्यवाहन
M. N. Dutt: O powerful one, do you beget a heroic son possessed of your power, who will remove, O bearer of sacrificial libations, our fears from that Asura.
शप्तानां नो महादेव्या नान्यदस्ति परायणम् अन्यत्र भवतो वीर्यं तस्मात्त्रायस्व नस्ततः
M. N. Dutt: We have been cursed by the great goddess Uma. There is nothing else than your power which can be our refuge now. Do you, therefore, O powerful deity, rescue us all.
इत्युक्तः स तथेत्युक्त्वा भगवान्हव्यकव्यभुक् जगामाथ दुराधर्षो गङ्गां भागीरथीं प्रति
M. N. Dutt: Thus addressed, the illustrious and irresistible bearer of sacrificial libations answered, saying, Be it so! and he then proceeded towards Ganga otherwise called Bhagirathi.
तया चाप्यभवन्मिश्रो गर्भश्चास्याभवत्तदा ववृधे स तदा गर्भः कक्षे कृष्णगतिर्यथा
M. N. Dutt: He knew her and caused her to conceive. Indeed, in the womb of Ganga the seed of Agni began to grow even as Agni himself grows.
तेजसा तस्य गर्भस्य गङ्गा विह्वलचेतना संतापमगमत्तीव्रं सा सोढुं न शशाक ह
M. N. Dutt: With the energy of that god, Ganga became greatly moved at heart. Indeed, she suffered great distress and became unable to bear it.
आहिते ज्वलनेनाथ गर्भे तेजःसमन्विते गङ्गायामसुरः कश्चिद्भैरवं नादमुत्सृजत्
M. N. Dutt: When the deity of fire cast his seed gifted with great energy into the womb of Ganga, a certain Asura uttered a terrific roar.
अबुद्धापतितेनाथ नादेन विपुलेन सा वित्रस्तोद्भ्रान्तनयना गङ्गा विप्लुतलोचना विसंज्ञा नाशकद्गर्भं संधारयितुमात्मना
M. N. Dutt: On account of that dreadful roar uttered by the Asura for purposes of his own, Ganga became very much terrified and her eyes rolled in fear and betrayed her agitation.
सा तु तेजःपरीताङ्गी कम्पमाना च जाह्नवी उवाच वचनं विप्र तदा गर्भबलोद्धता न ते शक्तास्मि भगवंस्तेजसोऽस्य विधारणे
M. N. Dutt: Overwhelmed with the energy of the seed she held in her womb, O learned Brahmana, she then addressed the god of fire, saying, I cannot any longer, O illustrious one, bear your seed in my womb.
विमूढास्मि कृतानेन तथास्वास्थ्यं कृतं परम् विह्वला चास्मि भगवंस्तेजो नष्टं च मेऽनघ
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, I am overcome with weakness by this seed of yours. The health I had in days before, is no longer mine. I have been greatly agitated, O illustrious one, and my heart is dead within me, O sinless one.
धारणे नास्य शक्ताहं गर्भस्य तपतां वर उत्स्रक्ष्येऽहमिमं दुःखान्न तु कामात्कथंचन
M. N. Dutt: O foremost of all persons gifted with penances, I cannot bear your seed any longer. I shall throw it off, induced by the distress that has befallen me, and not by caprice.
न चेतसोऽस्ति संस्पर्शो मम देव विभावसो आपदर्थे हि संबन्धः सुसूक्ष्मोऽपि महाद्युते
M. N. Dutt: There has been no actual contact of my body with your seed, O illustrious deity of fire. Our union, having for its cause the distress that has befallen the celestials, has been subtile and not of the flesh, O highly effulgent one.
यदत्र गुणसंपन्नमितरं वा हुताशन त्वय्येव तदहं मन्ये धर्माधर्मौ च केवलौ
M. N. Dutt: Whatever merit or otherwise they may be in this deed, O eater of sacrificial offerings, must belong to you. indeed, I think, you will be visited by virtue or sin of this deed.
तामुवाच ततो वह्निर्धार्यतां धार्यतामयम् गर्भो मत्तेजसा युक्तो महागुणफलोदयः
M. N. Dutt: To her the god of fire said, Do you carry the seed. Do, indeed, bear the foetus endued with my power. It will produce great results.
शक्ता ह्यसि महीं कृत्स्नां वोढुं धारयितुं तथा न हि ते किंचिदप्राप्यं मद्रेतोधारणादृते
AI Translation: You are able to bear and support the entire earth. There is nothing you cannot attain, except for bearing my semen.
सा वह्निना वार्यमाणा देवैश्चापि सरिद्वरा समुत्ससर्ज तं गर्भं मेरौ गिरिवरे तदा
AI Translation: Though restrained by the fire and the gods, the best of rivers then released that embryo on Mount Meru.
समर्था धारणे चापि रुद्रतेजःप्रधर्षिता नाशकत्तं तदा गर्भं संधारयितुमोजसा
M. N. Dutt: Capable of bearing that seed, yet oppressed by the power of Rudra, she could not hold that seed longer on account of its burning energy.
सा समुत्सृज्य तं दुःखाद्दीप्तवैश्वानरप्रभम् दर्शयामास चाग्निस्तां तदा गङ्गां भृगूद्वह पप्रच्छ सरितां श्रेष्ठां कच्चिद्गर्भः सुखोदयः
AI Translation: She, having cast off that (body) due to grief, which had the lustre of the blazing fire, And showed the fire to Ganga, O descendant of Bhrigu. He asked the best of rivers: "Is the embryo well-born?"
कीदृग्वर्णोऽपि वा देवि कीदृग्रूपश्च दृश्यते तेजसा केन वा युक्तः सर्वमेतद्ब्रवीहि मे
AI Translation: What is his complexion, O Goddess? What is his form? What is his radiance? Tell me all this.
गङ्गोवाच जातरूपः स गर्भो वै तेजसा त्वमिवानल सुवर्णो विमलो दीप्तः पर्वतं चावभासयत्
M. N. Dutt: Ganga said The foetus is of goldhue. In energy it is like you, O sinless one! Of an excellent colour, perfectly stainless, and burning with splendour, it has lighted the entire mountain.
पद्मोत्पलविमिश्राणां ह्रदानामिव शीतलः गन्धोऽस्य स कदम्बानां तुल्यो वै तपतां वर
M. N. Dutt: O foremost of all persons gifted with penances, the fragrance of it resembles the cool perfume that is scattered by lakes adorned with lotuses.
तेजसा तस्य गर्भस्य भास्करस्येव रश्मिभिः यद्द्रव्यं परिसंसृष्टं पृथिव्यां पर्वतेषु वा तत्सर्वं काञ्चनीभूतं समन्तात्प्रत्यदृश्यत
M. N. Dutt: With the splendour of that foetus everything around it seemed to be changed into gold as all things on mountain and low land seem to be changed into gold by the rays of the Sun.
पर्यधावत शैलांश्च नदीः प्रस्रवणानि च व्यदीपयत्तेजसा च त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्
AI Translation: He ran around the mountains, rivers, and springs. He illuminated the three worlds, with their moving and unmoving creatures, with his brilliance.
एवंरूपः स भगवान्पुत्रस्ते हव्यवाहन सूर्यवैश्वानरसमः कान्त्या सोम इवापरः एवमुक्त्वा तु सा देवी तत्रैवान्तरधीयत
AI Translation: Thus is your son, O Agni, the Lord. Equal in splendor to the sun and fire, he is like another moon. Having spoken thus, the goddess disappeared there itself.
पावकश्चापि तेजस्वी कृत्वा कार्यं दिवौकसाम् जगामेष्टं ततो देशं तदा भार्गवनन्दन
M. N. Dutt: Having said these words, the goddess-disappeared. The highly energetic god of fire also, having performed the business of the celestials, proceeded to the place he liked, O delighter of the Bhrigus.
एतैः कर्मगुणैर्लोके नामाग्नेः परिगीयते हिरण्यरेता इति वै ऋषिभिर्विबुधैस्तथा पृथिवी च तदा देवी ख्याता वसुमतीति वै
M. N. Dutt: It was on account of the result of this act that the Rishis and the celestials bestowed the name of Hiranyaretas upon the gods of fire. . And because the Earth held that seed she also came to be called by the name of Vasumati.
स तु गर्भो महातेजा गाङ्गेयः पावकोद्भवः दिव्यं शरवणं प्राप्य ववृधेऽद्भुतदर्शनः
M. N. Dutt: Meanwhile, that foetus, which had originated from the god of fire and been held for a time by Ganga, having fallen on a forest of reeds, began to grow and at last assumed a wonderful form.
ददृशुः कृत्तिकास्तं तु बालार्कसदृशद्युतिम् जातस्नेहाश्च तं बालं पुपुषुः स्तन्यविस्रवैः
M. N. Dutt: The presiding goddess of the constellation Krittika saw that form resembling the rising Sun.
ततः स कार्त्तिकेयत्वमवाप परमद्युतिः स्कन्नत्वात्स्कन्दतां चापि गुहावासाद्गुहोऽभवत्
M. N. Dutt: She henceforth began to bring up that child as her son with the milk of her breast. For this reason that highly effulgent child came to be called Kartikeya after her name.
एवं सुवर्णमुत्पन्नमपत्यं जातवेदसः तत्र जाम्बूनदं श्रेष्ठं देवानामपि भूषणम्
M. N. Dutt: And because he grew from seed that fell out of Rudra's body, he came to be called Skanda. The incident also of his birth having taken place in the forest of reeds, concealed from every body's view, gave him the name of Guha. It was thus that gold came into existence as the offspring of the god of fire.
ततःप्रभृति चाप्येतज्जातरूपमुदाहृतम् यत्सुवर्णं स भगवानग्निरीशः प्रजापतिः
AI Translation: From that time on, this is called "gold". That which is gold, that is the Blessed Lord Agni, the Lord, the Creator.
पवित्राणां पवित्रं हि कनकं द्विजसत्तम अग्नीषोमात्मकं चैव जातरूपमुदाहृतम्
M. N. Dutt: Gold is truly the illustrious Agni, the Lord of all things, and the foremost of all Prajapatis. The most sacred of all sacred things if gold, O foremost of twiceborn ones. Indeed, gold is said to have for its essence Agni and Soma.
रत्नानामुत्तमं रत्नं भूषणानां तथोत्तमम् पवित्रं च पवित्राणां मङ्गलानां च मङ्गलम्
AI Translation: The best of jewels, the best of ornaments, The most sacred of the sacred, the most auspicious of the auspicious,