Chapter 225

“Markandeya continued, ‘When that powerful, high-souled, and mighty beingwas born, various kinds of fearful phenomena occurred. And the nature ofmales and females, of heat and cold, and of such other pairs ofcontraries, was reversed. And the planets, the cardinal points and thefirmaments became radiant with light and the earth began to rumble verymuch. And the Rishis even, seeking the welfare of the world, while theyobserved all these terrific prodigies on all sides, began with anxioushearts to restore tranquillity in the universe. And those who used tolive in that Chitraratha forest said, This very miserable condition ofours hath been brought about by Agni cohabiting with the six wives of theseven Rishis.’ Others again who had seen the goddess assume the disguiseof a bird said, ‘This evil hath been brought about by a bird.’ No oneever imagined that Swaha was the authoress of that mischief. But havingheard that the (new born) male child was hers, she went to Skanda andgradually revealed to him the fact that she was his mother. And thoseseven Rishis, when they heard that a son of great power had been born (tothem), divorced their six wives with the exception of the adorableArundhati, because all the dwellers of that forest protested that thosesix persons had been instrumental in bringing forth the child. Swaha too,O king, said again and again to the seven Rishis, saying, ‘Ye ascetics,this child is mine, your wives are not his mother.’

The great Muni Viswamitra had, after the conclusion of the sacrifices ofthe seven Rishis, followed unseen the god of fire, while the latter wastortured with lust. He, therefore, knew everything as it happened and hewas the first to seek the protection of Mahasena. And he offered divineprayers to Mahasena and all the thirteen auspicious rites appertaining tochildhood, such as the natal and other ceremonies, were all performed bythe great Muni in respect of that child. And for the good of the world hepromulgated the virtues of the six-faced Skanda, and performed ceremoniesin honour of the cock, the goddess Sakti, and the first followers ofSkanda. And for this reason he became a great favourite of the celestialyouth. That great Muni then informed the seven Rishis, of thetransformations of Swaha and told them that their wives were perfectlyinnocent. But though thus informed the seven Rishis abandoned theirspouses unconditionally.

Markandeya continued, The celestials having heard of the prowess ofSkanda, all said to Vasava, ‘O Sakra, do thou kill Skanda without delayfor his prowess is unbearable. And if thou dost not exterminate him, hewill conquer the three worlds with ourselves, and overpowering thee, willhimself become the mighty lord of the celestials.’ Perplexed in mind,Sakra replied unto them, ‘This child is endowed with great prowess. Hecan himself destroy the Creator of the Universe, in battle putting forthhis might. I venture not, therefore, to do away with him.’ To this thegods replied, ‘Thou hast no manliness in thee, in that thou talkest inthis manner. Let the great Mothers of the Universe repair to-day toSkanda. They can master at will any degree of energy. Let then kill thischild.’ ‘It shall be so.’–the mothers replied. And then they went away.But on beholding that he was possessed of great might, they becamedispirited, and considering that he was invincible, they sought hisprotection and said unto him, ‘Do thou, O mighty being, become our(adopted) son. We are full of affection for thee and desirous of givingthee suck. Lo, the milk oozes from our breasts!’ On hearing these words,the mighty Mahasena became desirous of sucking their breasts and hereceived them with due respect and acceded to their request. And thatmightiest of mighty creatures then beheld his father Agni come towardshim. And that god, who is the doer of all that is good, was duly honouredby his son, and in company with the Mothers, he stayed there by the sideof Mahasena to tend him. And that lady amongst the Mothers who was bornof Anger[74] with a spike in hand kept watch over Skanda even like amother guarding her own offspring, and that irascible red-coloureddaughter of the Sea, who lived herself on blood, hugged Mahasena in herbreast and nursed him like a mother. And Agni transforming himself into atrader with a goat’s mouth and followed by numerous children began togratify that child of his with toys in that mountain abode of his.”