SECTION –CCXXV
(Markandeya-Samasya Parva Continued)
"Markandeya continued, 'When that powerful,
high-souled, and mighty being was born, various kinds of fearful phenomena
occurred. And the nature of males and females, of heat and cold, and of such
other pairs of contraries, was reversed. And the planets, the cardinal points
and the firmaments became radiant with light and the earth began to rumble very
much. And the Rishis even, seeking the welfare of the world, while they
observed all these terrific prodigies on all sides, began with anxious hearts
to restore tranquillity in the universe. And those who used to live in that
Chitraratha forest said, This very miserable condition of ours hath been
brought about by Agni cohabiting with the six wives of the seven Rishis.'
Others again who had seen the goddess assume the disguise of a bird said, 'This
evil hath been brought about by a bird.' No one ever imagined that Swaha was
the authoress of that mischief. But having heard that the (new born) male child
was hers, she went to Skanda and gradually revealed to him the fact that she
was his mother. And those seven Rishis, when they heard that a son of great
power had been born (to them), divorced their six wives with the exception of
the adorable Arundhati, because all the dwellers of that forest protested that
those six 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 of the seven Rishis, followed unseen the god of
fire, while the latter was tortured with lust. He, therefore, knew everything
as it happened and he was the first to seek the protection of Mahasena. And he
offered divine prayers to Mahasena and all the thirteen auspicious rites
appertaining to childhood, such as the natal and other ceremonies, were all
performed by the great Muni in respect of that child. And for the good of the
world he promulgated the virtues of the six-faced Skanda, and performed ceremonies
in honour of the cock, the goddess Sakti, and the first followers of Skanda.
And for this reason he became a great favourite of the celestial youth. That
great Muni then informed the seven Rishis, of the transformations of Swaha and
told them that their wives were perfectly innocent. But though thus informed
the seven Rishis abandoned their spouses unconditionally.
Markandeya continued, The celestials having heard
of the prowess of Skanda, all said to Vasava, 'O Sakra, do thou kill Skanda
without delay for his prowess is unbearable. And if thou dost not exterminate
him, he will conquer the three worlds with ourselves, and overpowering thee,
will himself become the mighty lord of the celestials.' Perplexed in mind,
Sakra replied unto them, 'This child is endowed with great prowess. He can
himself destroy the Creator of the Universe, in battle putting forth his might.
I venture not, therefore, to do away with him.' To this the gods replied, 'Thou
hast no manliness in thee, in that thou talkest in this manner. Let the great
Mothers of the Universe repair to-day to Skanda. They can master at will any
degree of energy. Let then kill this child.' 'It shall be so.'--the mothers
replied. And then they went away. But on beholding that he was possessed of great
might, they became dispirited, and considering that he was invincible, they
sought his protection and said unto him, 'Do thou, O mighty being, become our
(adopted) son. We are full of affection for thee and desirous of giving thee
suck. Lo, the milk oozes from our breasts!' On hearing these words, the mighty
Mahasena became desirous of sucking their breasts and he received them with due
respect and acceded to their request. And that mightiest of mighty creatures
then beheld his father Agni come towards him. And that god, who is the doer of
all that is good, was duly honoured by his son, and in company with the
Mothers, he stayed there by the side of Mahasena to tend him. And that lady
amongst the Mothers who was born of Anger 1 with a spike in hand kept watch
over Skanda even like a mother guarding her own offspring, and that irascible
red-coloured daughter of the Sea, who lived herself on blood, hugged Mahasena
in her breast and nursed him like a mother. And Agni transforming himself into
a trader with a goat's mouth and followed by numerous children began to gratify
that child of his with toys in that mountain abode of his."
Footnotes
458:1 Anger personified is a deity.
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