Shalya parva CHAPTER 46 (GADAYUDDHA PARVA)-Continued
The history of the Tirtha Taijasa and that of the installation of the King of Waters; The history of Agnitirtha
SYNOPSIS
This text recounts events surrounding the installation of Kartikeya (Skanda) as the generalissimo of the celestial armies and his exploits in protecting the divine realms. It also discusses the sanctity of two Tirthas (sacred pilgrimage sites): Taijasa and Agnitirtha.
The Mothers of Kartikeya
The text begins by naming the thousands of mothers (divine female beings) who became Kartikeya's companions. These mothers, with diverse forms and attributes, were endowed with ascetic powers, beauty, and the ability to assume forms at will. They were protectors of the celestials and guardians of sacred spaces such as forests, crossroads, and mountains.
The Blessings and Gifts to Kartikeya
The gods, led by Indra, armed Kartikeya with divine weapons and blessings to lead the celestial forces.
Key gifts include:
A powerful dart from Agni.
A celestial garland from Vishnu.
A peacock (vehicle) from Garuda.
A banner from Indra and other divine objects from Ganga, Shiva, and Brahma.
Kartikeya’s Battle with the Demons
Kartikeya led the celestial army, equipped with lances, maces, and other weapons, against the Daityas (demons). He defeated prominent demon chiefs, including Taraka, Mahisha, Tripada, and others. In a climactic battle, Kartikeya pierced the Krauncha Mountain with his dart, destroying the demons who sought refuge there, including the sons of the demon chief Vali. His roars, weapons, and divine energy struck fear into the hearts of his enemies, causing widespread destruction.
The Sanctity of the Tirthas: Taijasa Tirtha
This Tirtha marks the site where Varuna, the Lord of Waters, was installed by the celestials. Bathing here is said to confer divine blessings.
Agnitirtha
Skanda’s achievements were commemorated, and the Tirtha became a site of worship and second heaven for celestial beings.
Kartikeya’s Installation and Legacy
After his victory, Kartikeya was formally installed as the commander of the celestial armies. The gods honored him, and he granted them dominion, wealth, and sovereignty over the three worlds. His victory brought peace and prosperity to the heavens, and he was celebrated as a divine protector.
This story highlights Kartikeya’s valor, divine powers, and the sanctity of pilgrimage sites associated with his exploits.
Listen, O, Bharata, to the names of those illustrious mothers. The mobile and immobile universe is permeated by those auspicious ones.
प्रभावती विशालाक्षी पालिता गोस्तनी तथा । श्रीमती बहुला चैव तथैव बहुपुत्रिका ॥ ३ ॥ अप्सु जाता च गोपाली बृहदम्बालिका तथा । जयावती मालतिका ध्रुवरत्ना भयंकरी ॥ ४ ॥ वसुदामा च दामा च विशोका नन्दिनी तथा । एकचूडा महाचूडा चक्रनेमिश्च भारत ॥ ५ ॥ उत्तेजनी जयत्सेना कमलाक्ष्यश्च शोभना । शत्रुञ्जया तथा चैव क्रोधना शलभी खरी ॥ ६ ॥ माधवी शुभवक्त्रा च तीर्थनेमिश्च भारत । गीतप्रिया च कल्याणी रुद्ररोमामिताशना ।। ७ ॥ मेघस्वना भोगवती सुभ्रुश्च कनकावती । अलाताक्षी वीर्यवती विद्युजिह्वा च भारत ॥ ८ ॥ पद्मावती 'सुनक्षत्रा कन्दरा वहुयोजना | संतानिका च कौरव्य कमला च महाबला ॥ ९ ॥ सुदामा बहुदामा च सुप्रभा च यशस्विनी । नृत्यप्रिया च राजेन्द्र शतोलूखलमेखला ॥ १० ॥ शतघण्टा शतानन्दा भगनन्दा च भाविनी। वपुष्मती चन्द्रशीता भद्रकाली च भारत ।। ११ । ऋक्षाम्विका निष्कुटिका वामा चत्वरवासिनी । सुमङ्गला स्वस्तिमती बुद्धिकामा जयाप्रिया ॥ १२ ॥ धनदा सुप्रसादा च भवदा च जलेश्वरी । एडी भेडी समेडी च वेतालजननी तथा ॥ १३ ॥ कण्डूति: कालिका चैव देवमित्रा च भारत । वसुश्री : कोटरा चैव चित्रसेनां तथाचला ॥ १४ ॥ कुक्कुटिका शङ्खलिका तथा शकुनिका नृप । कुण्डारिका कौकुलिका कुम्भिकाथ शतोदरी ॥ १५ ॥ उत्क्रार्थिनी जलेलाच महावेगा च कङ्कणा । मनोजवा कण्टकिनी प्रघसा पूतना तथा ॥ १६ ॥ केशयन्त्री त्रुटिर्वामाक्रोशनाथ तडित्प्रभा । मन्दोदरी च मुण्डी च कोटरा मेघवाहिनी ॥ १७ ॥ सुभगा लम्बनी लम्बा ताम्रचूडा विकाशिनी । ऊर्ध्ववेणीधरा चैव पिङ्गाक्षी लोहमेखला ॥ १८ ॥ पृथुवस्त्रा मधुलिका मधुकुम्भा तथैव च। पक्षालिका मत्कुलिका जरायुर्जर्जरानना ॥ १९ ॥ ख्याता दहदहा चैव तथा धमधमा नृप । खण्डखण्डा च राजेन्द्र पूषणा मणिकुट्टिका ॥ २० ॥ अमोघा चैव कौरव्य तथा लम्बपयोधरा । वेणुवीणाघरा चैव पिङ्गाक्षी लोहमेखला ॥ २१॥ शशोलूकमुखी कृष्णा खरजङ्घा महाजवा । शिशुमारमुखी श्वेता लोहिताक्षी विभीषणा ॥ २२ ॥ जटालिका कामचरी दीर्घजिह्वा बलोत्कटा | कालेहिका वामनिका मुकुटा चैव भारत ॥ २३॥ लोहिताक्षी महाकाया हरिपिण्डा च भूमिप। एकत्वचा सुकुसुमा कृष्णकर्णी च भारत ॥ २४ ॥ क्षुरकर्णी चतुष्कर्णी कर्णप्रावरणा तथा । चतुष्पथनिकेता च गोकर्णी महिषानना ॥ २५ ॥ खरकर्णी महाकर्णी भेरीस्वनमहास्वना । शङ्खकुम्भश्रवाश्चैव भगदा च महाबला ॥ २६ ॥ गणा च सुगणा चैव तथाऽभीत्यथ कामदा । चतुष्पथरता चैव भूतितीर्थान्यगोचरी ॥ २७ ॥ पशुदा वित्तदा चैव सुखदा च महायशाः । पयोदा गोमहिषदा सुविशाला च भारत । २८ ॥ प्रतिष्ठा सुप्रतिष्ठा च रोचमाना सुरोचना । नौकर्णी मुखकर्णी च विशिरा मन्थिनी तथा ॥ २९ ॥ एकचन्द्रा मेघकर्णा मेघमाला विरोचना ।
Their nails were long, their teeth were large and their lips also, O Bharata, were projecting. Of straight forms and handsome features, all of them, endowed with youth, were adorned with ornaments.
माहात्म्येन च संयुक्ताः कामरूपधरास्तथा ॥ ३२॥ निर्मांसगात्र्यः श्वेताश्च तथा काञ्चनसंनिभाः ।
Of ascetic merit, they were capable of assuming forms at will. Not having fleshy limbs, they were of fair complexions and endued with the luster of gold.
Some amongst them were dark and looked like clouds in hue and some were of the color of smoke, O best of Bharata's race. And some were endued with the effulgence of the morning sun and were highly blessed. Possessed of long tresses, they were clad in what dresses.
The braids of some were tied upwards and the eyes of some were tawny and some had long girdles. Some had long stomachs, some had long ears and some had long breasts.
Some had coppery eyes and coppery appearance and the eyes of some were green. Capable of granting boons and of walking at will, they were always cheerful.
Possessed of great strength, some amongst them partook of the nature of Yama, some of Rudra, some of Soma, some of Kuvera, some of Varuna, some of Indra, and some of Agni, O destroyer of foes.
Capable of assuming any form at will, in fleetness they resembled the very wind. Of inconceivable power and great energy, their prowess also was inconceivable.
These and many other fairs (of the mothers), all capable of terrorizing the enemies, followed, the great Kartikeya, at the command of the king of gods.
That dart produces a loud sound and is adorned with many large bells. Possessed of great luster, it seemed to blaze with light. And Indra also gave him a banner effulgent as the morning sun.
Invincible and possessing all the qualities of a good army that force was known by the name of Dhananjaya. It was protected by thirty thousand warriors each of whom was powerful like Rudra himself. That force knew not how to fly from battle.
That terrible army of celestials, furnished with standards adorned with bells and equipt with drums and conchs and cymbals and armed with weapons and decked with many banners, shone like the autumnal sky, bespangled with planets and stars.
Exertion and Victory and Righteousness and Success and Prosperity and Courage and the Scriptures, (in their embodied forms) followed Kartikeya's army, O king.
स तया भीमया देवः शूलमुद्गरहस्तया । ज्वलितालातधारिण्या चित्राभरणवर्मया ॥ ६५ ॥ गदामुसलनाराचशक्तितोमरहस्तया । दृप्तसिंहनिनादिन्या विनद्य प्रययौ गुहः ॥ ६६ ॥
With that awe-inspiring force, armed with lances and mallets and blazing hands and maces and heavy clubs and arrows and darts and spears and bedecked with beautiful ornaments and armor, the divine Guha set out with leonine roars.
He repeatedly hurled his terrible weapon, viz., the dart, he had received from Agni. The energy displayed by him then resembled a fire fed with libations of clarified butter.
The powerful and worshipful Skanda filled with joy, at last killed Taraka, the chief of the Daityas, endued with great energy and prowess and was surrounded in that battle, by a hundred thousand heroic and powerful Daityas.
In that battle, he then fell down Mahisha, who was surrounded by eight Padmas of Daityas. He next killed Tripada who was surrounded by a thousand Ajutas of Daityas.
Filling the ten points of the horizon, the followers of Kumara, O king, made a loud noise, while those Daityas were being killed and danced and jumped and laughed in joy.
The three worlds were terrified at the yawns of Skanda's soldiers. The enemies were consumed with flames produced by Skanda. Many were killed by his roars only.
Some of the enemies of the Celestials struck with banners, were killed. Some, frightened by the sounds of bells, dropped on the face of the earth. Some were wounded with weapons and fell down dead.
Highly intelligent, the great generalissimo Skanda rushed against that enemy of the gods. Fearing Kartikeya, he took shelter within the Krauncha mountain.
Worked up with ire, the worshipful Kartikeya then pierced that mountain with that dart given him by Agni. The mountain was called Krauncha (crane). for the sound it always produced resembled the cry of a crane.
स शालस्कसन्धशबलं त्रस्तवानरवारणम् । प्रोड्डीनोद्भ्रान्तविहगं विनिष्पतितपन्नगम् ॥ ८५ ॥
sa śālaskasandhaśabalaṃ trastavānaravāraṇam | proḍḍīnodbhrāntavihagaṃ viniṣpatitapannagam || 85 ||
That mountain was variegated with Shala trees. The monkeys and elephants that lived on it were frightened. The birds that had lived there rose up and wheeled around in the sky. The serpents began to dart down its sides.
It resounded also with the cries of a large number of leopards and bears that ran hither and thither in fright. Other forests on it rang with the cries of hundreds of animals.
विनिष्पतद्भिः शरभैः सिंहैश्च सहसा द्रुतैः । शोच्यामी दशां प्राप्तो रराजेव स पर्वतः ॥ ८७॥
Sharabhas and lions suddenly run out. On account of all this, that mountain though it was reduced to a very pitiable condition still shone very beautifully.
Vidyadharas living on its summits soared into the air. The Kinnaras also became very anxious, bewildered by the fear caused by the fall of Skanda's arrow.
The Daityas then, by hundreds and thousands, came out of that burning mountain, all bedecked with beautiful ornaments and garlands. The followers of Kumara, overpowering them in battle, killed them all, the worshipful Skanda worked up with ire and killed the son of the Daitya chief (Vali) along with his younger brother as Indra had killed Vritra formerly.
The destroyer of hostile heroes, viz., Agni's son, pierced with his dart the Krauncha mountain, dividing his own self sometimes into many and sometimes aggregating them all into one.
बहुधा चैकधा चैव कृत्वाऽऽत्मानं महाबलः । शक्तिः क्षिप्ता रणे तस्य पाणिमेति पुनः पुनः ॥९२॥
Auspicious winds began to blow, carrying divine perfumes. The Gandharvas and great Rishis always engaged in the performance of sacrifices and sang his praises.
Some described him as the son of Maheshvara and some as that of Agni. Some spoke of him as the son of Uma or of Krittakas or of Ganga.
एकधा च द्विधा चैव चतुर्धा च महाबलम् । योगिनामीश्वरं देवं शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ।। १०० ॥
ekadhā ca dvidhā caiva caturdhā ca mahābalam | yogināmīśvaraṃ devaṃ śataśo’tha sahasraśaḥ || 100 ||
Hundreds and thousands of people described that Lord of Yogins of shining form and great might, as the son of one of those or of either of two of those or of any one of four of those.
"I have thus told you, O king, everything about the installation of Kartikeya. Listen now to the history of the sanctity of that best of Tirthas, on the Sarasvati.
बभूव तीर्थप्रवरं हतेषु सुरशत्रुषु । कुमारेण महाराज त्रिविष्टपमिवापरम्॥ १०२॥
The powerful son of Agni gave to each of those leading celestials various kinds of dominion and wealth and at last the sovereignty of the three worlds.
एवं स भगवांस्तस्मिंतीर्थे दैत्यकुलान्तकः । अभिषिक्तो महाराज देवसेनापतिः सुरैः ॥ १०४ ॥
That other Tirtha, O best of Bharatas, where in days of Yore, Varuna, the Lord of water had been installed by the celestials, is known by the name of Taijasa.
uṣitvā rajanīṃ tatra mādhavaḥ paravīrahā | pūjya tīrthavaraṃ tacca spṛṣṭvā toyaṃ ca lāṅgalī || 107||
Passing one night there, that killer of hostile heroes, viz., Madhava, lauding that foremost of Tirthas and touching its water, became cheerful and happy.
Vana parva CHAPTER 229 (MARKANDEYA SAMASYA PARVA) Continued
History of Angirasa
SYNOPSIS
This passage from the Mahabharata, narrated by Markandeya, celebrates the grandeur, virtues, and divine destiny of Skanda (Kartikeya). Adorned in gold and clad in red garments, Skanda's radiant appearance captivates the celestial and earthly beings alike. His valor, youth, and charm make him the favorite of the three worlds. Accompanied by the goddess of wealth, who attends him in an embodied form, he radiates power and prosperity akin to the full moon.
The Rishis and Brahmanas praise Skanda and urge him to assume the role of Indra, the king of the gods. However, Skanda, demonstrating humility and loyalty, declines the position, offering to serve Indra and protect the celestial realms instead. In recognition of his unmatched prowess, Indra requests Skanda to become the generalissimo of the celestial army, a position Skanda accepts to vanquish the Danavas (demons) and ensure the welfare of the gods, Brahmanas, and all creatures.
The ceremony of his investiture is marked by great splendor. Skanda is adorned with celestial garlands crafted by Vishwakarma and blessed by Shiva and Parvati. Deities, Rishis, and celestial musicians celebrate his ascension with Vedic hymns, music, and dance. Skanda’s virtues—beauty, strength, piety, devotion to righteousness, and protection of followers—are extolled as he is hailed as the protector of the heavens.
Skanda's divine origin is also elaborated upon, tracing his birth to the fiery essence of Rudra (Shiva), with contributions from the fire god Agni, Svaha, and the Krittikas (Pleiades). This lineage earns him the title of the son of Rudra. His red cock emblem, gifted by the fire god, becomes his symbolic mark of victory.
Following his installation, Indra recalls Devasena, a celestial maiden destined by Brahma to be Skanda's wife. With Vedic rites performed by Brihaspati, Skanda, and Devasena are united in marriage. Devasena, also known by several auspicious names like Shashti and Lakshmi, brings further prosperity to Skanda.
The text concludes by highlighting Skanda’s celebration on two auspicious days: Sripanchami (the fifth lunar day), marking his divine fame, and the sixth day, commemorating his fulfillment of destiny. Skanda, surrounded by celestial forces, is hailed as the savior of the heavens, embodying the virtues of a divine protector and leader.
He had sharp teeth, he was clad in a red garment, he looked very handsome, he had a most charming appearance, he possessed all good characteristics, he was the favorite of the three worlds.
He was a giver of boons, he was brave and youthful and he was adorned with ear-rings. When he was resting, the goddess of wealth, looking like a lotus and assuming a body, came to him.
श्रिया जुष्टः पृषुयशाः स कुमारवरस्तदा । निषण्णो दृश्यते भूतैः पौर्णमास्यां यथा शशी ॥ ४ ॥
O golden egg-born one, may prosperity come to you. May you be the cause of doing good to the world. Though you have been born in six nights, all the worlds have come to your subjection.
अभयं च पुनर्दत्तं त्वयैवैषां सुरोत्तम । तस्मादिन्द्रो भवानस्तु त्रैलोक्यस्याभयंकरः ॥ ७ ॥
O foremost of celestials, you have removed all their fears, therefore become the Indra of the three worlds and thus remove their cause of apprehension.
स्कन्द उवाच किमिन्द्रः सर्वलोकानां करोतीह तपोधनाः । कथं देवगणांश्चैव पाति नित्यं सुरेश्वरः ॥ ८ ॥
Indra gives strength, power, offspring, and happiness to all beings. When propitiated that lord of the celestials bestows on all creatures all the objects of their desire.
दुर्वृत्तानां संहरति व्रतस्थानां प्रयच्छति । अनुशास्ति च भूतानि कार्येषु बलसूदनः ॥ १० ॥ असूर्ये च भवेत् सूर्यस्तथाचन्द्रे च चन्द्रमाः । भवत्यग्निश्च वायुश्च पृथिव्यापश्च कारणैः || ११|| एतदिन्द्रेण कर्तव्यमिन्द्रे हि विपुलं बलम् । त्वं च वीर बली श्रेष्ठस्तस्मादिन्द्रो भवस्व नः ॥ १२ ॥
durvṛttānāṃ saṃharati vratasthānāṃ prayacchati | anuśāsti ca bhūtāni kāryeṣu balasūdanaḥ || 10 || asūrye ca bhavet sūryastathācandre ca candramāḥ | bhavatyagniśca vāyuśca pṛthivyāpaśca kāraṇaiḥ || 11|| etadindreṇa kartavyamindre hi vipulaṃ balam | tvaṃ ca vīra balī śreṣṭhastasmādindro bhavasva naḥ || 12 ||
He destroys the wicked and fulfills the desires of the righteous. That destroyer of Bala assigns to all creatures their various duties. He officiates for the sun and the moon in places where there is no sun and the moon. When occasion requires he acts for fire, air, earth, and water. These are the duties of Indra. His capacities are immense. You, too, are greatly powerful; therefore, O hero, become our Indra.
O mighty-armed one, O excellent being, make us happy by becoming the lord of all of us. You are worthy of the honor; therefore we shall install you this very day.
स्कन्द उवाच शाधि त्वमेव त्रैलोक्यमव्यचो विजये रतः । अहं ते किङ्करः शक्र न ममेन्द्रत्वमीप्सितम् ||१४||
skanda uvāca śādhi tvameva trailokyamavyaco vijaye rataḥ | ahaṃ te kiṅkaraḥ śakra na mamendratvamīpsitam ||14||
Skanda said :
O Indra continues to rule over the three worlds with self-possession and a desire for (new) conquests. I shall remain your humble servant. I do not desire to get your sovereignty.
Ohero, your prowess is wonderful. Therefore vanquish the enemies of the celestials. People have been greatly astonished to see your unrivaled prowess.
इन्द्रत्वे तु स्थितं वीर बलहीनं पराजितम् । आवयोश्च मिथो भेदे प्रयतिष्यन्त्यतन्द्रिताः ॥ १६ ॥ भेदिते च त्वयि विभो लोको द्वैधमुपेष्यति । द्विधाभूतेषु लोकेषु निश्चितेष्वावयोस्तथा ॥ १७ ॥
indratve tu sthitaṃ vīra balahīnaṃ parājitam | āvayośca mitho bhede prayatiṣyantyatandritāḥ || 16 || bhedite ca tvayi vibho loko dvaidhamupeṣyati | dvidhābhūteṣu lokeṣu niściteṣvāvayostathā || 17 ||
I have been bereft of my prowess. Defeated as I am by you if I am now to act as Indra, I will not be able to command the respect of all creatures. Everyone would be busy to bring about disunion, then O lord, they would be the partisans of one or other of us.
विचहः सम्प्रवर्तेत भूतभेदान्महाबल । तत्र त्वं मां रणे तात यथाश्रद्धं विजेष्यसि ।। १८ ।। तस्मादिन्द्रो भवानेव भविता मा विचारय ।
O greatly powerful one, when they will form themselves into two distinct factions, war as before would be the result of that disunion. In that war, you will undoubtedly be able to defeat me at your pleasure and then become the lord of all the worlds. Don't think on this subject.
स्कन्द उवाच त्वमेव राजा भद्रं ते त्रैलोक्यस्य ममैव च ॥ १९ ॥ करोमि किं च ते शक्र शासनं तद् ब्रवीहि मे ।
skanda uvāca tvameva rājā bhadraṃ te trailokyasya mamaiva ca || 19 || karomi kiṃ ca te śakra śāsanaṃ tad bravīhi me |
Skanda said :
O Indra, you are my king as well as that of the three worlds. May prosperity come to you. Tell me if I can obey any of your commands.
इन्द्र उवाच अहमिन्द्रो भविष्यामि तव वाक्यान्महाबल ॥ २० ॥ यदि सत्यमिदं वाक्यं निश्चयाद् भाषितं त्वया । यदि वा शासनं स्कन्द कर्तुमिच्छसि मे शृणु ॥ २१ ॥ अभिषिच्यस्व देवानां सैनापत्ये महाबल ।
O greatly powerful one, O Skanda, at your command I shall continue to act as Indra. If you have said this deliberately and earnestly then hear me how you can gratify your desire to serve me. Become the generalissimo of the celestial army.
Install me (then) as the generalissimo (of the celestial army) for the destruction of the Danavas, for the good of the celestials, and for the well-being of Brahmanas and kine.
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca so’bhiṣikto maghavatā sarvairdevagaṇaiḥ saha || 23 || atīva śuśubhe tatra pūjyamāno maharṣibhiḥ | tatra tat kāñcanaṃ chatraṃ dhriyamāṇaṃ vyarocata || 24 | yathaiva susamiddhasya pāvakasyātmamaṇḍalam |
Markandeya said:
Thus having been installed by Indra and all the other celestials and honoured by the great Rishis, he looked exceedingly grand. The golden umbrella (held over his head) looked like a halo of blazing fire.
O foremost of men, that illustrious deity, the vanquisher of Tripura (Indra) Lord Shiva with his wife came there and put around his neck the celestial garland of gold made by Vishwakarma.
अर्चयामास सुप्रीतो भगवान् गोवृषध्वजः । रुद्रमग्निं द्विजा: प्राहू रुद्रसूनुस्ततस्तु सः ।। २७ ।
That exalted god Vrishadhvaja (Siva) honored him with a joyous heart. That deity is called Rudra by the Brahmanas and therefore Skanda is called the son of Rudra.
The semen ejaculated by Rudra was converted in the form of a white mountain. The constellations Krittikas etc. had transmitted the fire semen at that white mountain made of Rudra semen.
As Rudra was seen by all the dwellers of heaven to honor Guha (Skanda), the foremost of all accomplished beings is for this reason called the son of Rudra.
The child had his birth from the action of Rudra entering into the constitution of the deity of fire and for this reason, Skanda is called the son of Rudra.
रुद्रस्य वह्नेः स्वाहायाः षण्णां स्त्रीणां च भारत । जातः स्कन्दः सुरश्रेष्ठो रुद्रसूनुस्ततोऽभवत् ।। ३१ ।।
O descendant of Bharata, as Rudra, that fire god, (Skanda) Svaha and the six wives (of the seven Rishis) were the cause of the birth of the great deity Skanda, so was he for that reason called the son of Rudra.
The red cock given to him by the fire god became his sign. When sitting on the flagstaff of his car it looked like the very image of the all-destroying fire.
या चेष्टा सर्वभूतानां प्रभा शान्तिर्बलं तथा । अचतस्तस्य सा शक्तिर्देवानां जयवर्धिनी ॥ ३४ ॥
The presiding deity of the power which gives victory to the celestials, which is the direction of all exertions of all creatures and which constitutes their glory, then came to him.
A mysterious charm entered into his constitution, the charm which manifests its power on the battlefield. Beauty, strength, piety, power, might, truthfulness, rectitude, devotion to Brahmanas, freedom from illusion or perplexity, protection of followers, destruction of foes, and care of all creatures, these, O lord of men, are the inborn virtues of Skanda.
The much-esteemed incantation of the Vedic hymns, the music of the celestial musicians, the songs of the celestial and the Gandharvas then rose on all sides.
Surrounded by the well-dressed Apsaras, by many gay and happy-looking Pishachas, and by the celestial, that son of Agni sported in all his grandeur. To the dwellers of heaven, the installed Skanda looked like the sun rising after the darkness had passed away. Then thousands of the celestial forces.
Saying "You are our lord", came to him from all directions. That exalted one, surrounded by all creatures and praised and honored by them, and encouraged them in return. Satakratu (Indra) also, after having installed Skanda as the generalissimo of the celestial army.
Remembered Devasena whom he had once rescued. "This one has undoubtedly been destined by Brahma himself to be the husband of that lady," thus reflecting, the slayer of Vala (Indra) brought her adorned with all ornaments; and he then thus spoke to Skanda, "O foremost of the celestial, even before your birth this lady was destined to be your wife by the Self-create ( Brahma ); therefore with due rites and Mantras accept her hand, her right hand which is like a lotus." Having been thus addressed, he accepted her hands in due rites.
बृहस्पतिर्मन्त्रविद्धि जजाप च जुहाव च। एवं स्कन्दस्य महिषीं देवसेनां विदुर्जनाः ॥ ४९ ॥
When Skanda was married to Devasena, the goddess of wealth in her embodied form waited upon him with diligence. As Skanda attained celebrity on the fifth lunar day, it was called Sripanchami; and as he obtained his object in the sixth, that day was considered to be a great tithi.
