Critical Edition
मार्कण्डेय उवाच ऋषयस्तु महाघोरान्दृष्ट्वोत्पातान्पृथग्विधान् अकुर्वञ्शान्तिमुद्विग्ना लोकानां लोकभावनाः
M. N. Dutt: The Rishis who always sought the welfare of the world, seeing these fearful omens on all sides, began with anxious hearts to restore tranquility in the universe.
Supplementary Passages:
3.215.1 After the ref., B Dc Dn D3 (marg. sec. m.).4.6 G3 ins.: *1063 तस्मिञ्जाते महासत्त्वे महासेने महाबले समुत्तस्थुर्महोत्पाता घोररूपाः पृथग्विधाः स्त्रीपुंसोर्विपरीतं च तथा द्वंद्वानि यानि च ग्रहा दीप्ता दिशः खं च ररास च मही भृशम् T1 G1.2 ins. after the ref.: T2 G4 before the ref.: *1064 इत्येतद्विविधाकारं वृत्तं शुक्लस्य पञ्चमीम् ततो युद्धं महद्घोरं षष्ठ्यां वृत्तं जनाधिप
निवसन्ति वने ये तु तस्मिंश्चैत्ररथे जनाः तेऽब्रुवन्नेष नोऽनर्थः पावकेनाहृतो महान् संगम्य षड्भिः पत्नीभिः सप्तर्षीणामिति स्म ह
M. N. Dutt: Those men who lived in that Chaitraratha forest said, “All this disasters have fallen on us in consequence of Agni holding intercourse with the six wives of the seven Rishis."
अपरे गरुडीमाहुस्त्वयानर्थोऽयमाहृतः यैर्दृष्टा सा तदा देवी तस्या रूपेण गच्छती न तु तत्स्वाहया कर्म कृतं जानाति वै जनः
M. N. Dutt: Others who saw her (Svaha) as a bird said, “This has been brought about by a bird.” None ever thought that Svaha was the cause of all this mischief.
सुपर्णी तु वचः श्रुत्वा ममायं तनयस्त्विति उपगम्य शनैः स्कन्दमाहाहं जननी तव
M. N. Dutt: Having heard that the child was hers, Svaha slowly went to Skanda and told him, “I am your mother.”
अथ सप्तर्षयः श्रुत्वा जातं पुत्रं महौजसम् तत्यजुः षट्तदा पत्नीर्विना देवीमरुन्धतीम्
M. N. Dutt: The seven Rishis, hearing that a greatly powerful son was born (to them), abandoned their six wives except the adorable lady Arundhuti.
षड्भिरेव तदा जातमाहुस्तद्वनवासिनः सप्तर्षीनाह च स्वाहा मम पुत्रोऽयमित्युत अहं जाने नैतदेवमिति राजन्पुनः पुनः
M. N. Dutt: Because all the dwellers of that forest said that those six women were the cause of the birth of that child. O king, Svaha also said again and again to the seven Rishis, "O Rishis, this child is mine. Your wives are not its mother."
विश्वामित्रस्तु कृत्वेष्टिं सप्तर्षीणां महामुनिः पावकं कामसंतप्तमदृष्टः पृष्ठतोऽन्वगात् तत्तेन निखिलं सर्वमवबुद्धं यथातथम्
M. N. Dutt: The great Rishi Vishwamitra, after performing the sacrifice of the seven Rishis, had followed unseen Agni when he had been afflicted with desire and therefore he knew all as then happened.
विश्वामित्रस्तु प्रथमं कुमारं शरणं गतः स्तवं दिव्यं संप्रचक्रे महासेनस्य चापि सः
M. N. Dutt: Vishwamitra was first to seek the protection of Kumara. He offered excellent prayers in honour of Mahasena.
मङ्गलानि च सर्वाणि कौमाराणि त्रयोदश जातकर्मादिकास्तस्य क्रियाश्चक्रे महामुनिः
M. N. Dutt: All the thirteen auspicious rites of childhood such as the birth and other ceremonies were all performed by the great Rishi in respect of that child.
षड्वक्त्रस्य तु माहात्म्यं कुक्कुटस्य च साधनम् शक्त्या देव्याः साधनं च तथा पारिषदामपि
AI Translation: The greatness of the six-faced one, the means of the cock, The means of the goddess Shakti, and also of the attendants.
विश्वामित्रश्चकारैतत्कर्म लोकहिताय वै तस्मादृषिः कुमारस्य विश्वामित्रोऽभवत्प्रियः
AI Translation: Vishvamitra performed this act for the welfare of the world. Therefore, the sage Vishvamitra became dear to the young prince.
अन्वजानाच्च स्वाहाया रूपान्यत्वं महामुनिः अब्रवीच्च मुनीन्सर्वान्नापराध्यन्ति वै स्त्रियः श्रुत्वा तु तत्त्वतस्तस्मात्ते पत्नीः सर्वतोऽत्यजन्
M. N. Dutt: That great Rishi told the seven Rishis all about the transformation of Svaha (as their wives) and also told them that their wives are perfectly innocent. (Even) having heard this, the seven Rihsis abandoned their wives,
स्कन्दं श्रुत्वा ततो देवा वासवं सहिताब्रुवन् अविषह्यबलं स्कन्दं जहि शक्राशु माचिरम्
AI Translation: Having heard about Skanda, the gods, together with Vasava, said: "O Shakra, quickly destroy the invincible Skanda, do not delay."
यदि वा न निहंस्येनमद्येन्द्रोऽयं भविष्यति त्रैलोक्यं संनिगृह्यास्मांस्त्वां च शक्र महाबलः
AI Translation: If not, Indra will be born today. The very powerful Shakra, having bound all the three worlds, you and me,
स तानुवाच व्यथितो बालोऽयं सुमहाबलः स्रष्टारमपि लोकानां युधि विक्रम्य नाशयेत्
M. N. Dutt: Thus spoke Indra to those who were afflicted, 'This child possesses great prowess. He can himself destroy (even) the creator of universe in battle with his prowess. I therefore do not dare to destory him.' Thus said Shakra again and again.
Supplementary Passages:
3.215.15 K2 B2.4 D (except D1-3.5) G3 ins. after 15: B3, after 15ab: *1065 न बालमुत्सहे हन्तुमिति शक्रः प्रभाषते तेऽब्रुवन्नास्ति ते वीर्यं यत एवं प्रभाषसे
सर्वास्त्वद्याभिगच्छन्तु स्कन्दं लोकस्य मातरः कामवीर्या घ्नन्तु चैनं तथेत्युक्त्वा च ता ययुः
M. N. Dutt: They (the celestial) said, “You have no heroism in you, therefore you speak thus. Let the mothers of the universe go today to Skanda. They can muster at will any power they like. Let them kill this child. Saying, “So be it,” they (mothers) went away.
तमप्रतिबलं दृष्ट्वा विषण्णवदनास्तु ताः अशक्योऽयं विचिन्त्यैवं तमेव शरणं ययुः
M. N. Dutt: But seeing him matchlessly powerful, they became dispirited. Considering him to be invincible, they sought his protection and said to him, "O greatly powerful one, become our son.
ऊचुश्चापि त्वमस्माकं पुत्रोऽस्माभिर्धृतं जगत् अभिनन्दस्व नः सर्वाः प्रस्नुताः स्नेहविक्लवाः
AI Translation: And they said to him, "You are our son. We have supported the world. "Please accept us all, who are weeping, overcome with affection.
Supplementary Passages:
3.215.18 After 18, B1.3 (both marg.) Dn D4.6 G3 ins.: *1066 तासां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पातुकामः स्तनान्प्रभुः
ताः संपूज्य महासेनः कामांश्चासां प्रदाय सः अपश्यदग्निमायान्तं पितरं बलिनां बली
AI Translation: Having worshipped them, Mahasena, having given them what they desired, saw Agni coming, the strong one among the strong, his father.
स तु संपूजितस्तेन सह मातृगणेन ह परिवार्य महासेनं रक्षमाणः स्थितः स्थिरम्
M. N. Dutt: That Sive (the doer of good) was duly honoured by his son; and he with the mothers stayed there near Mahasena to tend him.
सर्वासां या तु मातॄणां नारी क्रोधसमुद्भवा धात्री सा पुत्रवत्स्कन्दं शूलहस्ताभ्यरक्षत
M. N. Dutt: That lady amongstst the mothers who was born of anger kept watch over Skanda with a spike in hand as a mother guards her own child.
लोहितस्योदधेः कन्या क्रूरा लोहितभोजना परिष्वज्य महासेनं पुत्रवत्पर्यरक्षत
AI Translation: The daughter of the red ocean, cruel and feeding on blood, embraced Mahasena and protected him like a son.
अग्निर्भूत्वा नैगमेयश्छागवक्त्रो बहुप्रजः रमयामास शैलस्थं बालं क्रीडनकैरिव
AI Translation: Having become Agni, the goat-faced one, the father of many, enjoyed the child who was on the mountain, as if with toys.