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.
Jump to a shloka · 31 in this sarga
जातरूपमिति ख्यातं तदा प्रभृति राघव। सुवर्णं पुरुषव्याघ्र हुताशनसमप्रभम्।।1.37.22।। तृणवृक्षलतागुल्मं सर्वं भवति काञ्चनम्।
Meaning
From that time on, tiger among men, it was known as jataruupa gold, resembling fire itself in brilliance, and all grass, trees, creepers, and shrubs there turned to gold.
तं कुमारं ततो जातं सेन्द्रास्सह मरुद्गणा:।।1.37.23।। क्षीरसंभावनार्थाय कृत्तिकास्समयोजन्।
Meaning
Then, of that child so born, the gods together with Indra and the Marut-hosts appointed the Krittikas for the sake of nursing him with milk.
ता: क्षीरं जातमात्रस्य कृत्वा समयमुत्तमम्।।1.37.24।। ददु: पुत्रोऽयमस्माकं सर्वासामिति निश्चिता:।
Meaning
They, having made a supreme pact regarding the milk of the newly born child, resolved as one that this son belonged to them all.
ततस्तु देवता स्सर्वा: कार्तिकेय इति ब्रुवन्।।1.37.25।। पुत्रस्त्रैलोक्यविख्यातो भविष्यति न संशय:।
Meaning
Then all the gods declared him Kartikeya: this son shall undoubtedly become renowned throughout the three worlds.
तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स्कन्नं गर्भपरिस्रवे।।1.37.26।। स्नापयन् परया लक्ष्म्या दीप्यमानं यथानलम्।
Meaning
Hearing their words, they bathed the one who had slipped from the embryo's discharge, radiant with great splendor like blazing fire.
स्कन्द इत्यब्रुवन् देवा: स्कन्नं गर्भपरिस्रवात्।।1.37.27।। कार्तिकेयं महाभागं काकुत्स्थ ज्वलनोपमम्।
Meaning
The gods called him Skanda, for he had slipped from the embryo's discharge — the greatly fortunate Kartikeya, fire-like, Kakutstha.
प्रादुर्भूतं तत: क्षीरं कृत्तिकानामनुत्तमम् ।।1.37.28।। षण्णां षडाननो भूत्वा जग्राह स्तनजं पय:।
Meaning
Then that supreme milk of the six Krittikas appeared, and he, becoming six-faced, took hold of the milk flowing from their breasts.
गृहीत्वा क्षीरमेकाह्ना सुकुमारवपुस्तदा।।1.37.29।। अजयत्स्वेन वीर्येण दैत्यसेनागणान् विभु:।
Meaning
Having taken that milk in a single day, the tender-bodied, mighty one then conquered by his own valor the hosts of the demon armies.
सुरसेनागणपतिं ततस्तमतुलद्युतिम्।।1.37.30।। अभ्यषिञ्चन् सुरगणा स्समेत्याग्निपुरोगमा:।
Meaning
Then the gods, gathering together with Agni at their head, anointed him, of matchless splendor, as commander of the divine army-hosts.
एष ते राम गङ्गाया विस्तरोऽभिहितो मया।।1.37.31।। कुमारसम्भवश्चैव धन्य: पुण्यस्तथैव च।
Meaning
This, Rama, is the full account of Ganga's origin and of Kartikeya's birth that I have related to you — blessed and auspicious indeed.