Critical Edition
मार्कण्डेय उवाच श्रिया जुष्टं महासेनं देवसेनापतिं कृतम् सप्तर्षिपत्न्यः षड्देव्यस्तत्सकाशमथागमन्
M. N. Dutt: Markandeya said : Those six ladies, the wives of the seven Rishis, when they learnt that Mahasena had been blessed with good fortune and he had been made the generallissimo of the celestial army, all came to him.
ऋषिभिः संपरित्यक्ता धर्मयुक्ता महाव्रताः द्रुतमागम्य चोचुस्ता देवसेनापतिं प्रभुम्
M. N. Dutt: Those virtuous and vow-observing ones, having been abandoned by the Rishis, came to the celestial and exalted generallisimo and spoke to him thus.
वयं पुत्र परित्यक्ता भर्तृभिर्देवसंमितैः अकारणाद्रुषा तात पुण्यस्थानात्परिच्युताः
AI Translation: We have been abandoned by our husbands, who are equal to the gods. For no reason, O son, we have been expelled from the holy place.
Supplementary Passages:
3.219.3 After 3a, K1.2 ins.: *1078 धर्मयुक्ता महाव्रताः भवदीयैकशरणाः
अस्माभिः किल जातस्त्वमिति केनाप्युदाहृतम् असत्यमेतत्संश्रुत्य तस्मान्नस्त्रातुमर्हसि
AI Translation: It is said by someone that we have given birth to you. Having heard this untruth, you should save us from this.
अक्षयश्च भवेत्स्वर्गस्त्वत्प्रसादाद्धि नः प्रभो त्वां पुत्रं चाप्यभीप्सामः कृत्वैतदनृणो भव
M. N. Dutt: We desire to adopt you as our son, so that, O lord, everlasting bliss might be secured to us through your favour. Repay thus the obligation you owe to us.
स्कन्द उवाच मातरो हि भवत्यो मे सुतो वोऽहमनिन्दिताः यच्चाभीप्सथ तत्सर्वं संभविष्यति वस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: Skanda said: Ofurltless ones, become my mothers. I am your son. You will obtain all the desires of your mind.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच एवमुक्ते ततः शक्रं किं कार्यमिति सोऽब्रवीत् उक्तः स्कन्देन ब्रूहीति सोऽब्रवीद्वासवस्ततः
M. N. Dutt: Markandeya said : Thereupon Shakra (Indra), having expressed his desire to say something to Skanda, the latter said, "What is it? Tell it to me.” Being thus told by Skanda, Vasava thus spoke.
अभिजित्स्पर्धमाना तु रोहिण्या कन्यसी स्वसा इच्छन्ती ज्येष्ठतां देवी तपस्तप्तुं वनं गता
M. N. Dutt: "The lady Abhijit, the younger sister of Rohini, being jealous and desirous of becoming the eldest, has gone to the forest to perform asceticism.
तत्र मूढोऽस्मि भद्रं ते नक्षत्रं गगनाच्च्युतम् कालं त्विमं परं स्कन्द ब्रह्मणा सह चिन्तय
M. N. Dutt: I amn at a loss to find out one to replace that fallen star. O Skanda, be blessed. Consult with Brahma about this matter.
धनिष्ठादिस्तदा कालो ब्रह्मणा परिनिर्मितः रोहिण्याद्योऽभवत्पूर्वमेवं संख्या समाभवत्
M. N. Dutt: Dhanishtha and other constellations were created by Brahma. Rohini was one of them and with her their number was full."
एवमुक्ते तु शक्रेण त्रिदिवं कृत्तिका गताः नक्षत्रं शकटाकारं भाति तद्वह्निदैवतम्
M. N. Dutt: Having been thus addressed (by Indra), Skanda sent Kritika. She was placed in heavens. That star, presided over by Agni, shone as if with seven heads.
विनता चाब्रवीत्स्कन्दं मम त्वं पिण्डदः सुतः इच्छामि नित्यमेवाहं त्वया पुत्र सहासितुम्
M. N. Dutt: Vinata also said to Skanda, “You are my son entitled to offer me oblations. O son, I desire to live with you always."
स्कन्द उवाच एवमस्तु नमस्तेऽस्तु पुत्रस्नेहात्प्रशाधि माम् स्नुषया पूज्यमाना वै देवि वत्स्यसि नित्यदा
M. N. Dutt: Skanda said: "So be it. I bow my head to you. Guide me with a mother's affection. Respected by your daughter-in-law, you will always live with me.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच अथ मातृगणः सर्वः स्कन्दं वचनमब्रवीत् वयं सर्वस्य लोकस्य मातरः कविभिः स्तुताः इच्छामो मातरस्तुभ्यं भवितुं पूजयस्व नः
M. N. Dutt: Markandeya said : Thereupon the great mothers thus spoke to Skanda, “We are called by the learned as the mothers of all creatures. But we desire to be your mother; therefore honour and respect us.
Supplementary Passages:
3.219.14 After 14, K3.4 Dc D1.3.5 S (except G3) ins.: *1079 स तासां वचनं श्रुत्वा स्कन्दो वचनमब्रवीत्
स्कन्द उवाच मातरस्तु भवत्यो मे भवतीनामहं सुतः उच्यतां यन्मया कार्यं भवतीनामथेप्सितम्
M. N. Dutt: Skanda said: Become mothers to me and let me be your son. Tell me what I can do to please you.
मातर ऊचुः यास्तु ता मातरः पूर्वं लोकस्यास्य प्रकल्पिताः अस्माकं तद्भवेत्स्थानं तासां चैव न तद्भवेत्
AI Translation: The Mothers said: Those who were previously appointed as the mothers of this world, That should be our place, and not theirs.
भवेम पूज्या लोकस्य न ताः पूज्याः सुरर्षभ प्रजास्माकं हृतास्ताभिस्त्वत्कृते ताः प्रयच्छ नः
AI Translation: "We should be worshipped by the world, but they are not worshipped, O bull among gods. " "They have taken our subjects. For your sake, give them back to us."
स्कन्द उवाच दत्ताः प्रजा न ताः शक्या भवतीभिर्निषेवितुम् अन्यां वः कां प्रयच्छामि प्रजां यां मनसेच्छथ
M. N. Dutt: Skanda said: You shall not get back those offsprings that have been once given away. But if you like, I can give you (new) progeny.
मातर ऊचुः इच्छाम तासां मातॄणां प्रजा भोक्तुं प्रयच्छ नः त्वया सह पृथग्भूता ये च तासामथेश्वराः
M. N. Dutt: The mothers said : We desire that while living with you we may be able to eat up the progeny of those mothers and their grandsons by assuming different shapes. Grant us this favour.
स्कन्द उवाच प्रजा वो दद्मि कष्टं तु भवतीभिरुदाहृतम् परिरक्षत भद्रं वः प्रजाः साधु नमस्कृताः
M. N. Dutt: Skanda said: I can grant you progeny. But what you ask is very painful. Be blessed. O mothers, I bow my head to you, do give them your protection and care.
मातर ऊचुः परिरक्षाम भद्रं ते प्रजाः स्कन्द यथेच्छसि त्वया नो रोचते स्कन्द सहवासश्चिरं प्रभो
M. N. Dutt: The mothers said: O Skanda, we shall protect them as you desire. Be blessed, O lord Skanda, we desire to live with you always.
स्कन्द उवाच यावत्षोडश वर्षाणि भवन्ति तरुणाः प्रजाः प्रबाधत मनुष्याणां तावद्रूपैः पृथग्विधैः
AI Translation: Skanda said: As long as the young people are sixteen years old, They afflict humans with various forms.
अहं च वः प्रदास्यामि रौद्रमात्मानमव्ययम् परमं तेन सहिता सुखं वत्स्यथ पूजिताः
AI Translation: And I will give you my own self, which is terrible and imperishable. Together with that supreme one, you will live happily, honored.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततः शरीरात्स्कन्दस्य पुरुषः काञ्चनप्रभः भोक्तुं प्रजाः स मर्त्यानां निष्पपात महाबलः
M. N. Dutt: Markandeya said : Then a mighty fiery-being sprang up from the body of Skanda to devour the progeny of the human beings.
अपतत्स तदा भूमौ विसंज्ञोऽथ क्षुधान्वितः स्कन्देन सोऽभ्यनुज्ञातो रौद्ररूपोऽभवद्ग्रहः स्कन्दापस्मारमित्याहुर्ग्रहं तं द्विजसत्तमाः
M. N. Dutt: He fell down upon the ground senseless and hungry. At the command of Skanda, that evil spirit assumed a fearful form.
विनता तु महारौद्रा कथ्यते शकुनिग्रहः पूतनां राक्षसीं प्राहुस्तं विद्यात्पूतनाग्रहम्
AI Translation: The great and terrible Vinata is described as the seizure of a bird. They call Pūtana a demoness. One should know that to be the seizure of Pūtana.
कष्टा दारुणरूपेण घोररूपा निशाचरी पिशाची दारुणाकारा कथ्यते शीतपूतना गर्भान्सा मानुषीणां तु हरते घोरदर्शना
M. N. Dutt: She, who is known as Putana Rakshashi by the learned, is the Graha called Putana. That fearful and terrible Rakshashi of a hideous form is called the Pishachi Shita Putana. That fearful spirit causes abortion in women.
अदितिं रेवतीं प्राहुर्ग्रहस्तस्यास्तु रैवतः सोऽपि बालाञ्शिशून्घोरो बाधते वै महाग्रहः
M. N. Dutt: Aditi is also known by the name of Revati; her spirits are called Raivata. That Graha also afflicts children.
दैत्यानां या दितिर्माता तामाहुर्मुखमण्डिकाम् अत्यर्थं शिशुमांसेन संप्रहृष्टा दुरासदा
AI Translation: The mother of the demons, Diti, is called Mukhamdhika. She is extremely delighted with the flesh of the child, and is difficult to approach.
कुमाराश्च कुमार्यश्च ये प्रोक्ताः स्कन्दसंभवाः तेऽपि गर्भभुजः सर्वे कौरव्य सुमहाग्रहाः
AI Translation: The boys and girls who are said to be born from Skanda, they too are all born from the womb, O descendant of Kuru, the great planets.
तासामेव कुमारीणां पतयस्ते प्रकीर्तिताः अज्ञायमाना गृह्णन्ति बालकान्रौद्रकर्मिणः
M. N. Dutt: They are known as the husbands of these female spirits. Children are unawares attacked by these female creatures.
गवां माता तु या प्राज्ञैः कथ्यते सुरभिर्नृप शकुनिस्तामथारुह्य सह भुङ्क्ते शिशून्भुवि
M. N. Dutt: O king, Surabhi, who is called the mother of all animals of the bovine species, is ridden by Shakuni who along with her devours children on earth.
सरमा नाम या माता शुनां देवी जनाधिप सापि गर्भान्समादत्ते मानुषीणां सदैव हि
M. N. Dutt: O ruler of men, Sarama the mother of gods, also habitually kills all children when they remain in the womb.
पादपानां च या माता करञ्जनिलया हि सा करञ्जे तां नमस्यन्ति तस्मात्पुत्रार्थिनो नराः
AI Translation: She is the mother of the trees, the abode of the Karajana. Men who desire sons pay homage to the Karajana.
Supplementary Passages:
3.219.34 After 34ab, B D (except D1-3.5) G3 ins.: *1080 वरदा सा हि सौम्या च नित्यं भूतानुकम्पिनी
इमे त्वष्टादशान्ये वै ग्रहा मांसमधुप्रियाः द्विपञ्चरात्रं तिष्ठन्ति सततं सूतिकागृहे
AI Translation: These eighteen are the grahas, dear to meat and honey, They stay for two and a half nights in the delivery room.
कद्रूः सूक्ष्मवपुर्भूत्वा गर्भिणीं प्रविशेद्यदा भुङ्क्ते सा तत्र तं गर्भं सा तु नागं प्रसूयते
AI Translation: When Kadru, having a subtle body, enters the pregnant woman, she eats the embryo there, and she gives birth to a serpent.
गन्धर्वाणां तु या माता सा गर्भं गृह्य गच्छति ततो विलीनगर्भा सा मानुषी भुवि दृश्यते
M. N. Dutt: She who is the mother of the Gandharvas takes away the fetus. And thus the woman is seen on the earth to have an abhortive conception.
या जनित्री त्वप्सरसां गर्भमास्ते प्रगृह्य सा उपविष्टं ततो गर्भं कथयन्ति मनीषिणः
M. N. Dutt: She who is the mother of the Apsaras removes the fetus from the womb. And then the learned men say that the conception has become stationary.
लोहितस्योदधेः कन्या धात्री स्कन्दस्य सा स्मृता लोहितायनिरित्येवं कदम्बे सा हि पूज्यते
M. N. Dutt: The daughter of the deity of blood is said to be the nurse of Skanda. She is therefore worshipped under the name of Lohitayani on Kadamba trees.
पुरुषेषु यथा रुद्रस्तथार्या प्रमदास्वपि आर्या माता कुमारस्य पृथक्कामार्थमिज्यते
AI Translation: Just as Rudra is among men, so is the noble lady among women. The noble lady, the mother of the prince, is worshipped separately for the sake of desire.
एवमेते कुमाराणां मया प्रोक्ता महाग्रहाः यावत्षोडश वर्षाणि अशिवास्ते शिवास्ततः
AI Translation: Thus have I described to you, Prince, the great planets, up to the age of sixteen, they are inauspicious, thereafter they are auspicious.
ये च मातृगणाः प्रोक्ताः पुरुषाश्चैव ये ग्रहाः सर्वे स्कन्दग्रहा नाम ज्ञेया नित्यं शरीरिभिः
M. N. Dutt: The male and female spirits that I have described to you are always called by men as the spirits of Skanda.
तेषां प्रशमनं कार्यं स्नानं धूपमथाञ्जनम् बलिकर्मोपहारश्च स्कन्दस्येज्या विशेषतः
M. N. Dutt: They are propitiated with burnt offerings, ablutions, unguents, sacrifices and other offerings and particularly by the worship of Skanda.
एवमेतेऽर्चिताः सर्वे प्रयच्छन्ति शुभं नृणाम् आयुर्वीर्यं च राजेन्द्र सम्यक्पूजानमस्कृताः
AI Translation: Thus worshipped, they all bestow good fortune on men. O king, when properly worshipped and bowed to, they bestow long life and strength.
ऊर्ध्वं तु षोडशाद्वर्षाद्ये भवन्ति ग्रहा नृणाम् तानहं संप्रवक्ष्यामि नमस्कृत्य महेश्वरम्
AI Translation: Above the age of sixteen, the planets that arise in humans I shall now describe them, having bowed to Mahesvara.
यः पश्यति नरो देवाञ्जाग्रद्वा शयितोऽपि वा उन्माद्यति स तु क्षिप्रं तं तु देवग्रहं विदुः
M. N. Dutt: The man who sees the celestials while sleeping or while he is awake soon turn mad. The spirits under whose influence this happens, are called the celestial spirits.
आसीनश्च शयानश्च यः पश्यति नरः पितॄन् उन्माद्यति स तु क्षिप्रं स ज्ञेयस्तु पितृग्रहः
M. N. Dutt: When a man sees his deceased ancestors while he is comfortably seated or while he is lying in his bed, he turns mad. The spirit who causes this is called ancestral spirit.
अवमन्यति यः सिद्धान्क्रुद्धाश्चापि शपन्ति यम् उन्माद्यति स तु क्षिप्रं ज्ञेयः सिद्धग्रहस्तु सः
M. N. Dutt: The man who shows disrespect to the Siddhas and who is cursed by them in return soon turns mad. The evil spirit who causes this is called the Siddha spirit.
उपाघ्राति च यो गन्धान्रसांश्चापि पृथग्विधान् उन्माद्यति स तु क्षिप्रं स ज्ञेयो राक्षसो ग्रहः
AI Translation: One who smells various scents and tastes different flavors, That one quickly becomes insane. He should be known as the Rākṣasa graha.
गन्धर्वाश्चापि यं दिव्याः संस्पृशन्ति नरं भुवि उन्माद्यति स तु क्षिप्रं ग्रहो गान्धर्व एव सः
M. N. Dutt: The spirit by whose influence a man is possessed by the celestial musicians (Gandharvas) is thus made mad is called the Gandharva spirit.
आविशन्ति च यं यक्षाः पुरुषं कालपर्यये उन्माद्यति स तु क्षिप्रं ज्ञेयो यक्षग्रहस्तु सः
AI Translation: When a man is possessed by Yakshas at the end of time, He quickly becomes insane. That is known to be the Yaksha-graha.
अधिरोहन्ति यं नित्यं पिशाचाः पुरुषं क्वचित् उन्माद्यति स तु क्षिप्रं पैशाचं तं ग्रहं विदुः
M. N. Dutt: The evil spirit by whose influence men are always persiented by the Pishachas and thus turn mad is called the Pishacha spirit.
यस्य दोषैः प्रकुपितं चित्तं मुह्यति देहिनः उन्माद्यति स तु क्षिप्रं साधनं तस्य शास्त्रतः
M. N. Dutt: The illness of the man who goes mad, his mind being demoralised with vices, must be cured according to the methods prescribed in the Shastras.
वैक्लव्याच्च भयाच्चैव घोराणां चापि दर्शनात् उन्माद्यति स तु क्षिप्रं सत्त्वं तस्य तु साधनम्
M. N. Dutt: Men also turn mad from perplexity, from fear, as also on seeing hideous sights. Their remedy is in quieting their minds.
कश्चित्क्रीडितुकामो वै भोक्तुकामस्तथापरः अभिकामस्तथैवान्य इत्येष त्रिविधो ग्रहः
M. N. Dutt: There are three classes of evil spirits, some frolicsome, some gluttonous and some sensual.
यावत्सप्ततिवर्षाणि भवन्त्येते ग्रहा नृणाम् अतः परं देहिनां तु ग्रहतुल्यो भवेज्ज्वरः
M. N. Dutt: Until men attain the age of one hundred years these evil spirits continue to persecute them. Afterwards fever becomes the only evil spirit that affects human beings.
अप्रकीर्णेन्द्रियं दान्तं शुचिं नित्यमतन्द्रितम् आस्तिकं श्रद्दधानं च वर्जयन्ति सदा ग्रहाः
M. N. Dutt: Those evil spirits always avoid those who are self-controlled and self-restrained, who are of cleanly habits, who are god-fearing and free from laziness and contamination.
इत्येष ते ग्रहोद्देशो मानुषाणां प्रकीर्तितः न स्पृशन्ति ग्रहा भक्तान्नरान्देवं महेश्वरम्
M. N. Dutt: O king, I have thus described to you all the evil spirits that influence the destiny of man. You who are devoted to the great god (Siva) will never be troubled.