Sarga 37: The Birth of Kartikeya
Kartikeya Utpatti
Agni carries Shiva's seed into Ganga, who discharges it into the Himalayas, forming gold and other ores; the Krittikas nurse the six-faced child, who is named Kartikeya and Skanda and anointed commander of the celestial army.
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देवकार्यमिदं देव संविधत्स्व हुताशन। शैलपुत्र्यां महातेजो गङ्गायां तेज उत्सृज।।1.37.11।।
Meaning
God, accomplish this task of the gods; release your great energy, O fire, into Ganga, the mountain's daughter.
देवतानां प्रतिज्ञाय गङ्गामभ्येत्य पावक:। गर्भं धारय वै देवि देवतानामिदं प्रियम्।।1.37.12।।
Meaning
Having given his word to the gods, Agni approached Ganga: goddess, hold this embryo, for this is dear to the gods.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दिव्यं रूपमधारयत्। दृष्ट्वा तन्महिमानं स समन्तादवकीर्यत।।1.37.13।।
Meaning
Hearing his words, she assumed a divine form; beholding his greatness, it was scattered all about.
समन्ततस्तदा देवीमभ्यषिञ्चत पावक:। सर्वस्रोतांसि पूर्णानि गङ्गाया रघुनन्दन।।1.37.14।।
Meaning
Then, delight of Raghu, fire poured itself into the goddess all around, until every channel of Ganga was filled.
तमुवाच ततो गङ्गा सर्वदेवपुरोहितम्। अशक्ता धारणे देव तव तेज स्समुद्धतम्। दह्यमानाग्निना तेन सम्प्रव्यथितचेतना।।1.37.15।।
Meaning
Ganga then said to that priest of all the gods: god, I am unable to bear your upsurging energy, my mind distressed as it burns me with that fire.
अथाब्रवीदिदं गङ्गां सर्वदेवहुताशन:। इह हैमवती पादे गर्भोऽयं सन्निवेश्यताम्।।1.37.16।।
Meaning
Then Agni, oblation-bearer of all the gods, said this to Ganga: let this embryo be deposited here at the foot of the Himalayas.
श्रुत्वा त्वग्निवचो गङगा तं गर्भमतिभास्वरम्। उत्ससर्ज महातेज स्स्रोतोभ्यो हि तदानघ ।।1.37.17।।
Meaning
Hearing Agni's word, sinless one, the greatly radiant Ganga discharged that most brilliant embryo from her streams.
यदस्या निर्गतं तस्मात्तप्तजाम्बूनदप्रभम् । काञ्चनं धरणीं प्राप्तं हिरण्यममलं शुभम्।।1.37.18।।
Meaning
What emerged from her, resembling molten gold, reached the earth as pure, auspicious gold.
ताम्रं कार्ष्णायसं चैव तैक्ष्ण्यादेवाभ्यजायत।।1.37.19।। मलं तस्याभवत्तत्र त्रपु सीसकमेव च। तदेतद्धरणीं प्राप्य नानाधातुरवर्धत।।1.37.20।।
Meaning
Copper and black iron arose from its sharper parts; its impurity there became tin and lead; thus, reaching the earth, it grew into many kinds of ore.
निक्षिप्तमात्रे गर्भे तु तेजोभिरभिरञ्जितम्। सर्वं पर्वतसन्नद्धं सौवर्णमभवद्वनम्।।1.37.21।।
Meaning
As soon as the embryo was cast down, colored by its radiance, the whole mountain-bound forest became a golden woodland.