Chapter 45

Vaishampayana said, “Collecting all articles as laid down in thescriptures for the ceremony of investiture, Brihaspati duly pouredlibations on the blazing fire. Himavat gave a seat which was adorned withmany costly gems. Kartikeya was made to sit on that auspicious and bestof seats decked with excellent gems. The gods brought thither all kindsof auspicious articles, with due rites and mantras, that were necessaryfor a ceremony of the kind. The diverse gods–Indra and Vishnu, both ofgreat energy, and Surya and Candramas, and Dhatri, and Vidhatri, andVayu, and Agni, and Pushan, and Bhaga, and Aryaman, and Ansa, andVivaswat, and Rudra of great intelligence, and Mitra, and the (eleven)Rudras, the (eight) Vasus, the (twelve) Adityas, the (twin) Ashvinis, theViswedevas, the Maruts, the Saddhyas, the Pitris, the Gandharvas, theApsaras, the Yakshas, the Rakshasas, the Pannagas, innumerable celestialRishis, the Vaikhanasas, the Valakhilyas, those others (among Rishis)that subsist only on air and those that subsist on the rays of the Sun,the descendants of Bhrigu and Angiras, many high-souled Yatis, all theVidyadharas, all those that were crowned with ascetic success, theGrandsire, Pulastya, Pulaha of great ascetic merits, Angiras, Kasyapa,Atri, Marichi, Bhrigu, Kratu, Hara, Prachetas, Manu, Daksha, the Seasons,the Planets, and all the luminaries; O monarch, all the rivers in theirembodied forms, the eternal Vedas, the Seas, the diverse tirthas, theEarth, the Sky, the Cardinal and Subsidiary points of the compass, andall the Trees, O king, Aditi the mother of the gods, Hri, Sri, Swaha,Sarasvati, Uma, Sachi, Sinivali, Anumati, Kuhu, the Day of the new moon,the Day of the full Moon, the wives of the denizens of heaven, Himavat,Vindhya, Meru of many summits, Airavat with all his followers, theDivisions of time called Kala, Kashtha, Fortnight, the Seasons, Night,and Day, O king, the prince of steeds, Ucchaisravas, Vasuki the king ofthe Snakes, Aruna, Garuda, the Trees, the deciduous herbs, and theadorable god Dharma–all came there together. And there came also Kala,Yama, Mrityu, and the followers of Yama. From fear of swelling the list Ido not mention the diverse other gods that came there. All of them cameto that ceremony for investing Kartikeya with the status ofgeneralissimo. All the denizens of heaven, O king, brought thereeverything necessary for the ceremony and every auspicious article.Filled with joy, the denizens of heaven made that high-souled youth, thatterror of the Asuras, the generalissimo of the celestial forces, afterpouring upon his head the sacred and excellent water of the Sarasvatifrom golden jars that contained other sacred articles needed for thepurpose. The Grandsire of the worlds, Brahman, and Kasyapa of greatenergy, and the others (mentioned and) not mentioned, all poured waterupon Skanda even as, O monarch, the gods had poured water on the head ofVaruna, the lord of waters, for investing him with dominion. The lordBrahman then, with a gratified heart, gave unto Skanda four companions,possessed of great might, endued with speed like that of the wind,crowned with ascetic success, and gifted with energy which they couldincrease at will. They were named Nandisena and Lohitaksha andGhantakarna and Kumudamalin. The lord Sthanu, O monarch, gave unto Skandaa companion possessed of great impetuosity, capable of producing ahundred illusions, and endued with might and energy that he could enhanceat will. And he was the great destroyer of Asuras. In the great battlebetween the gods and the Asuras, this companion that Sthanu gave, filledwith wrath, slew, with his hands alone, fourteen millions of Daityas offierce deeds. The gods then made over to Skanda the celestial host,invincible, abounding with celestial troops, capable of destroying theenemies of the gods, and of forms like that of Vishnu. The gods then,with Vasava at their head, and the Gandharvas, the Yakshas, theRakshasas, the Munis, and the Pitris, all shouted, ‘Victory (to Skanda)!’Then Yama gave him two companions, both of whom resembled Death, Unmathaand Pramatha, possessed of great energy and great splendour. Endued withgreat prowess, Surya, with a gratified heart, gave unto Kartikeya two ofhis followers named Subhraja and Bhaswara. Soma also gave him twocompanions, Mani and Sumani, both of whom looked like summits of theKailasa mountain and always used white garlands and white unguents. Agnigave unto him two heroic companions, grinders of hostile armies, who werenamed Jwalajihbha and Jyoti. Ansa gave unto Skanda of great intelligencefive companions, Parigha, and Vata, and Bhima of terrible strength, andDahati and Dahana, both of whom were exceedingly fierce and possessed ofgreat energy. Vasava that slayer of hostile heroes, gave unto Agni’s sontwo companions, Utkrosa and Panchaka, who were armed respectively withthunder-bolt and club. These had in battle slain innumerable enemies ofShakra. The illustrious Vishnu gave unto Skanda three companions, Chakraand Vikrama and Sankrama of great might. The Ashvinis, O bull ofBharata’s race, with gratified hearts, gave unto Skanda two companionsVardhana and Nandana, who had mastered all the sciences. The illustriousDhatri gave unto that high-souled one five companions, Kunda, Kusuma,Kumuda, Damvara and Adamvara. Tvashtri gave unto Skanda two companionsnamed Chakra and Anuchakra, both of whom were endued with great strength.The lord Mitra gave unto the high-souled Kumara two illustriouscompanions named Suvrata and Satyasandha, both of whom were endued withgreat learning and ascetic merit, possessed of agreeable features,capable of granting boons and celebrated over the three worlds. Vidhatrigave unto Kartikeya two companions of great celebrity, the high-souledSuprabha and Subhakarman. Pushan gave him, O Bharata, two companions,Panitraka and Kalika, both endued with great powers of illusion. Vayugave him, O best of the Bharatas, two companions, Vala and Ativala,endued with great might and very large mouths. Varuna, firmly adhering totruth, gave him Ghasa and Atighasa of great might and possessed of mouthslike those of whales. Himavat gave unto Agni’s son two companions, OKing, Suvarchas and Ativarchas. Meru, O Bharata, gave him two companionsnamed Kanchana and Meghamalin. Manu also gave unto Agni’s son two othersendued with great strength and prowess, Sthira and Atisthira. Vindhyagave unto Agni’s son two companions named Uschrita and Agnisringa both ofwhom fought with large stones. Ocean gave him two mighty companions namedSangraha and Vigraha, both armed with maces. Parvati of beautifulfeatures gave unto Agni’s son Unmada and Pushpadanta and Sankukarna.Vasuki, the king of the snakes, O tiger among men, gave unto the son ofAgni two snakes named Jaya and Mahajaya. Similarly the Saddhyas, theRudras, the Vasus, the Pitris, the Seas, the Rivers, and the Mountains,all endued with great might, gave commanders of forces, armed with lancesand battle-axes and decked with diverse kinds of ornaments. Listen now tothe names of those other combatants armed with diverse weapons and cladin diverse kinds of robes and ornaments, that Skanda procured. They wereSankukarna, Nilkumbha, Padmai, Kumud, Ananta, Dwadasabhuja, Krishna,Upakrishnaka, Ghranasravas, Kapiskandha, Kanchanaksha, Jalandhama,Akshasantarjana, Kunadika, Tamobhrakrit, Ekaksha, Dwadasaksha, Ekajata,Sahasravahu, Vikata, Vyaghraksha, Kshitikampana, Punyanaman, Sunaman,Suvaktra, Priyadarsana, Parisruta, Kokonada, Priyamalyanulepana, Ajodara,Gajasiras, Skandhaksha, Satalochana, Jwalajibha, Karala, Sitakesa, Jati,Hari, Krishnakesa, Jatadhara, Chaturdanshtra, Ashtajihva, Meghananda,Prithusravas, Vidyutaksha, Dhanurvaktra, Jathara, Marutasana, Udaraksha,Rathaksha, Vajranabha, Vasurprabha, Samudravega, Sailakampin, Vrisha,Meshapravaha, Nanda, Upadanka, Dhumra, Sweta, Kalinga, Siddhartha,Varada, Priyaka, Nanda, Gonanda, Ananda, Pramoda, Swastika, Dhruvaka,Kshemavaha, Subala, Siddhapatra, Govraja, Kanakapida, Gayana, Hasana,Vana, Khadga, Vaitali, Atitali, Kathaka, Vatika, Hansaja,Pakshadigdhanga, Samudronmadana, Ranotkata, Prashasa, Swetasiddha,Nandaka, Kalakantha, Prabhasa, Kumbhandaka, Kalakaksha, Sita,Bhutalonmathana, Yajnavaha, Pravaha, Devajali, Somapa, Majjala, KrathaTuhara Chitradeva, Madhura, Suprasada, Kiritin, Vatsala, Madhuvarna,Kalasodara, Dharmada, Manma, Thakara, Suchivaktra, Swetavaktra, Suvaktra,Charuvaktra, Pandura, Dandavahu, Suvahu, Rajas, Kokilaka, Achala,Kanakaksha, Valakarakshaka, Sancharaka, Kokanada, Gridhrapatra, Jamvuka,Lohajvaktra, Javana, Kumbhavaktra, Kumbhaka, Mundagriva, Krishnaujas,Hansavaktra, Candrabha, Panikurchas, Samvuka, Panchavaktra, Sikshaka,Chasavaktra, Jamvuka, Kharvaktra, and Kunchaka. Besides these, many otherhigh-souled and mighty companions, devoted to ascetic austerities andregardful of Brahmanas, were given unto him by the Grandsire. Some ofthem were in youth; some were old and some, O Janamejaya, were very youngin years. Thousands upon thousands of such came to Kartikeya. They werepossessed of diverse kinds of faces. Listen to me, O Janamejaya, as Idescribe them! Some had faces like those of tortoises, and some likethose of cocks. The faces of some were very long, O Bharata. Some, again,had faces like those of dogs, and wolves, and hares, and owls, and asses,and camels, and hogs. Some had human faces and some had faces like thoseof sheep, and jackals. Some were terrible and had faces like those ofmakaras and porpoises. Some had faces like those of cats and some likethose of biting flies; and the faces of some were very long. Some hadfaces like those of the mongoose, the owl, and the crow. Some had faceslike those of mice and peacocks and fishes and goats and sheep andbuffaloes. The faces of some resembled those of bears and tigers andleopards and lions. Some had faces like those of elephants andcrocodiles. The faces of some resembled those of Garuda and therhinoceros and the wolf. Some had faces like those of cows and mules andcamels and cats. Possessed of large stomachs and large legs and limbs,some had eyes like stars. The faces of some resembled those of pigeonsand bulls. Other had faces like those of kokilas and hawks and tittirasand lizards. Some were clad in white robes. Some had faces like those ofsnakes. The faces of some resembled those of porcupines. Indeed, some hadfrightful and some very agreeable faces; some had snakes for theirclothes. The faces as also the noses of some resembled those of cows.Some had large limbs protruding stomachs but other limbs very lean; somehad large limbs but lean stomachs. The necks of some were very short andthe ears of some were very large. Some had diverse kinds of snakes fortheir ornaments. Some were clad in skins of large elephants, and some inblack deer-skins. The mouths of some were on their shoulders. Some hadmouths on their stomachs, some on their backs, some on their cheeks, someon their calves, and some on their flanks, and the mouths of many wereplaced on other parts of their bodies. The faces of many amongst thoseleaders of troops were like those of insects and worms. The mouths ofmany amongst them were like those of diverse beasts of prey. Some hadmany arms and some many heads. The arms of some resembled trees, and theheads of some were on their loins. The faces of some were tapering likethe bodies of snakes. Many amongst them had their abodes on diverse kindsof plants and herbs. Some were clad in rags, some in diverse kinds ofbones, some were diversely clad, and some were adorned in diverse kindsof garlands and diverse kinds of unguents. Dressed diversely, some hadskins for their robes. Some had head-gears; the brows of some werefurrowed into lines; the necks of some bore marks like those onconchshells, some were possessed of great effulgence. Some had diadems,some had five tufts of hair on their heads, and the hair of some was veryhard. Some had two tufts, some three, and some seven. Some had featherson their heads, some had crowns, some had heads that were perfectly bald,and some had matted locks. Some were adorned with beautiful garlands, andthe faces of some were very hairy. Battle was the one thing in which theytook great delight, and all of them were invincible by even the foremostones amongst the gods. Many amongst them were clad in diverse kinds ofcelestial robes. All were fond of battle. Some were of dark complexion,and the faces of some had no flesh on them. Some had very long backs, andsome had no stomachs. The backs of some were very large while those ofsome were very short. Some had long stomachs and the limbs of some werelong. The arms of some were long while those of some were short. Somewere dwarfs of short limbs. Some were hunch-backed. Some had short hips.The cars and heads of some were like those of elephants. Some had noseslike those of tortoises, some like those of wolves. Some had long lips,some had long hips, and some were frightful, having their facesdownwards. Some had very large teeth, some had very short teeth, and somehad only four teeth. Thousands among them, O king, were exceedinglyterrible, looking like infuriated elephants of gigantic size. Some wereof symmetrical limbs, possessed of great splendour, and adorned withornaments. Some had yellow eyes, some had ears like arrows, some hadnoses like gavials. O Bharata! Some had broad teeth, some had broad lips,and some had green hair. Possessed of diverse kinds of feet and lips andteeth, they had diverse kinds of arms and heads. Clad in diverse kinds ofskins, they spoke diverse kinds of languages, O Bharata! Skilled in allprovincial dialects, those puissant ones conversed with one another.Those mighty companions, filled with joy, gambolled there, cutting capers(around Kartikeya). Some were long-necked, some longnailed, somelong-legged. Some amongst them were large-headed and some large-armed.The eyes of some were yellow. The throats of some were blue, and the earsof some were long, O Bharata. The stomachs of some were like masses ofantimony. The eyes of some were white, the necks of some were red, andsome had eyes of a tawny hue. Many were dark in colour and many, O king,were of diverse colours, O Bharata. Many had ornaments on their personsthat looked like yak-tails. Some bore white streaks on their bodies, andsome bore red streaks. Some were of diversified colours and some hadgolden complexions, and some were endued with splendours like those ofthe peacock. I shall describe to thee the weapons that were taken bythose that came last to Kartikeya. Listen to me. Some had noses on theiruplifted arms. Their faces were like those of tigers and asses. Theireyes were on their backs, their throats were blue, and their armsresembled spiked clubs. Some were armed with Sataghnis and discs, andsome had heavy and short clubs. Some had swords and mallets and some werearmed with bludgeons, O Bharata. Some, possessed of gigantic sizes andgreat strength, were armed with lances and scimitars. Some were armedwith maces and Bhusundis and some had spears on their hands. Possessed ofhigh souls and great strength and endued with great speed and greatimpetuosity, those mighty companions had diverse kinds of terribleweapons in their arms. Beholding the installation of Kartikeya, thosebeings of mighty energy, delighting in battle and wearing on theirpersons rows of tinkling bells, danced around him in joy. These and manyother mighty companions, O king, came to the high-souled and illustriousKartikeya. Some belonged to the celestial regions, some to the aerial,and some to the regions of the Earth. All of them were endued with speedlike that of the wind. Commanded by the gods, those brave and mighty onesbecame the companions of Kartikeya. Thousands upon thousands, millionsupon millions, of such beings came there at the installation of thehigh-souled Kartikeya and stood surrounding him.”